Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2015
571. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health for details of the 80 new primary care facilities that will be provided under the new capital plan, by county; the overall Exchequer investment involved; the number that will be provided through, direct build by the State; public private partnership; and operational leasing [34591/15]
View answerThe Government’s “Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021” was published on 30 September 2015. This Capital Plan presents the Government’s new €42 billion framework for infrastructure investment in Ireland over the period 2016 to 2021.
The Capital Plan includes just over €3 billion for investment in health infrastructure, and the Department of Health has identified five main priority areas to begin a long term programme of transformation of health care facilities across the country, including primary care.
The development of primary care remains central to the Government’s objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system. The policy is to enable people to easily access a broad spectrum of services in the community, through their local Primary Care Team. The development of Primary Care Centres (PCCs), through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary services capable of meeting the great majority of people’s healthcare needs, in the most appropriate and economic setting.
During the period of the Plan, additional primary care facilities will be provided across the country, building on the 46 PCCs delivered since March 2011. This will be done through a combination of direct build by the State, through Public Private Partnership (PPP) and by way of operational leasing. The mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered / provided / available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition, the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to adequate financing. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances, including the feasibility of implementation.
At present, there are 50 locations where primary care infrastructure is under construction or at an advanced planning stage, under the three methods of delivery:
- 14 – Direct Build (funded by the HSE’s annual capital allocations);
- 14 – PPP (also funded by the HSE’s annual capital allocations); and
- 22 – Operational Lease (funded from the HSE’s annual revenue allocations).
Following the tender process for the above PPP project (14 PCCs), Prime Balfour Beatty has been appointed as the preferred bidder. 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.
Under the Operational Lease model, construction work has started in ten locations and the HSE is at advanced stages with developers in a further 14 locations where Agreements for Lease have been entered into and Letters of Intent have issued for a number of other locations.
In November 2014, the HSE advertised an additional 73 locations for delivery of Primary Care Centres by Operational Lease. The HSE is currently reviewing all Expressions of Interest to determine which are suitable for more detailed consideration and progression to the next stage of the process.
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of proposed centres by county, progress on same and estimated expenditure. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
