Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2015
23. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding his plan to roll out primary care centres throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8003/15]
View answerThe development of Primary Care Centres, through a combination of public and private investment, is supporting the delivery of an enhanced range of multidisciplinary, locally accessible primary health care services. To date, there are 86 Primary Care Centres in operation throughout the country, 43 of which have opened since 2011.
The HSE uses three mechanisms to deliver primary care infrastructure:
- Direct build (by HSE);
- Public Private Partnership (PPP) project; or
- Operational Lease with the private sector.
There are currently 37 locations where Primary Care Centres are at an advanced planning stage using one of these three methods of delivery.
Direct Build centres are funded by the HSE’s capital allocation with funding provided for 16 centres.
14 centres are being progressed through Public Private Partnerships. Tenders for this project have been returned and are currently being evaluated. It is expected that the preferred bidder will be selected in Quarter 2, 2015. Subject to successful completion of financial and contractual arrangements, it is expected that construction work will commence before the end of 2015, with the centres expected to be completed by the first half of 2017.
To date, 43 Primary Care Centres have been delivered through the Operational Lease model funded from the HSE's revenue allocation. The HSE is at advanced stages with developers in 25 locations where Agreements for Lease have been entered into, and it is currently at negotiation stage in an additional 31 locations where Letters of Intent have been issued.
In November 2014, the HSE advertised an additional 73 locations for delivery of Primary Care Centres by Operational Lease. January 16, 2015 was the closing date for receipt of Expressions of Interest. The HSE is reviewing all Expressions of Interest to determine which are suitable for more detailed consideration and progression to the next stage of the process.
Despite constraints on the availability of public capital and revenue in recent years, a very ambitious programme is under way to develop Primary Care Centres and support the provision of an enhanced and more integrated range of services within communities.
