Vol. 455 No. 3
76 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, made to date in meeting the target of having 80 per cent of general practices computerised, as set out in his Department's Health Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12150/95]
Limerick East): My Department made arrangements in 1994 for the establishment of a software accreditation scheme as a means of ensuring that general practice software being sold in Ireland would perform in accordance with minimum standards which were agreed with the Irish College of General Practitioners. GPs have been advised that they should ensure that software being purchased has been accredited by the scheme which is operated by the centre for software engineering at Dublin City University.
Resources have been earmarked from the General Practice Development Fund and the Indicative Drug Target Scheme for the implementation of an information technology programme within general practice.
Health boards have reported that considerable progress is being made with many new systems installed and that significant numbers of GPs have expressed interest in acquiring computer systems. Investment in this area will continue to be given priority in the next few years with a view to achieving the target set out in the strategy.
