Primary Care Centre Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 May 2014

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Questions (438)

Seán Kyne

Question:

438. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the number and location of the primary care centres that have been established since March 2011; the number and location of centres planned between now and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20302/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Alex White)

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system. Supporting infrastructure, procured through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multidisciplinary primary health care. Considerable progress has been achieved to date. 37 primary care centres have been opened since March 2011 and infrastructure development is underway at a further forty three locations.

In addition to the rank of the locations as a result of the 2012 prioritisation exercise, the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors, including GP participation. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care centres are also subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available and to successful planning processes. In addition, the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to sufficient financing.

As regards the PPP project, the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) published a Prior Indicative Notice (PIN) / Pre-Qualification Questionnaire in the OJEU on 19 December 2013. Four submissions were received by the closing date which was 10 March 2014. Information can be located at the following web address: http://www.ndfa.ie/TenderCompetitions/PrimaryCareCentresPPPProgramme.htm. It is expected that 10-14 sites (indicative number 12 based on affordability) will be delivered as part of a single PPP contract with the remaining centres to be delivered by the HSE using other procurement means.

As with all capital projects this programme must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects over the period 2014-2018 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. Nevertheless, where possible, the HSE's capital programme will include provision to progress primary care centres with the highest ranking following the 2012 national prioritisation exercise by direct/own-build in the event that other delivery mechanisms are not feasible.

Please see the following table, which provides the information on primary care infrastructure -

- Primary care infrastructure opened since March 2011

- Primary care infrastructure underway

- The PPP project.

Primary Care Centres opened since March 2011 Update at 30 April 2014

Count	HSE Region	County / Area	PCT Name / Location	Delivery Method	Open
1	DML	Dublin	Inchicore	Direct Build	2011 Q4
2	DML	Dublin	Ballyfermot	Direct Build	2012 Q3
3	DML	Dublin	Rathfarnham	Lease	2012 Q4
4	DML	Dublin	Churchtown	Operational Lease	2012 Q4
5	DML	Dublin	Dublin City at James's St	Operational Lease	2012 Q4
6	DML	Kildare	Newbridge	Operational Lease	2013 Q2
7	DML	Laois	Portarlington	Operational Lease	2011 Q3
8	DML	Longford	Longford Town	Operational Lease	2013 Q2
9	DML	Westmeath	Athlone at Clonbrusk	Operational Lease	2014 Q1
10	DML	Dublin	Bride St / Liberties (Old Meath Hospital Campus)	Operational Lease	2014 Q2
11	DNE	Dublin	Blanchardstown	Operational Lease	2013 Q4
12	DNE	Meath	Dunshaughlin	Direct Build	2012
13	DNE	Meath	Ashbourne	Operational Lease	2013 Q1
14	DNE	Meath	Summerhill	Operational Lease	2014
15	DNE	Louth	Carlingford	Direct Build	2012
16	DNE	Louth	Ardee	Direct Build	2012
17	DNE	Cavan	Cootehill	Direct Build	2012
18	DNE	Cavan	Bailieborough	Direct Build	2012 Q4
19	DNE	Cavan	Cavan Town	Operational Lease	2012 Q1
20	DNE	Cavan	Kingscourt	Operational Lease	2012 Q3
21	DNE	Cavan	Cavan Town at Connolly Court	Operational Lease	2013 Q2
22	South	Wexford	Gorey	Operational Lease	2012 Q3
23	South	Kilkenny	Kilkenny at Grange's Road	Operational Lease	2011 Q3
24	South	Kilkenny	Callan	Operational Lease	2011 Q3
25	South	Waterford	Tramore	Operational Lease	2011 Q4
26	South	Cork / South Lee	Cork City at Mahon	Operational Lease	2011 Q4
27	South	Cork / North Lee	Macroom	Operational Lease	2012 Q1
28	South	Cork	Schull	Operational Lease	2013 Q4
29	South	Kerry	Kenmare	Operational Lease	2012 Q3
30	South	Kerry	West Kerry (Dingle)	Direct Build	2013
31	West	Limerick	Limerick City at Abbey St Mary's	Operational Lease	2012 Q1
32	West	Galway	Galway City East	Operational Lease	2011 Q2
33	West	Galway	Athenry	Operational Lease	2013 Q3
34	West	Mayo	Ballina	Operational Lease	2011 Q2
35	West	Roscommon	Castlerea	Operational Lease	2012 Q3
36	West	Roscommon	Monksland South Roscommon	Operational Lease	2012 Q4
37	West	Donegal	Glenties	Direct Build	2012 Q3