Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - General Practitioner Co-operative.

Tony Killeen

Ceist:

173 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will respond positively to the request for additional funding from the Mid-Western Health Board to enable the proposed general practitioner co-operative in County Clare to commence operation in September 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20384/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

There is considerable interest throughout the country in developing GP out of hours co-operatives. In that regard, my Department recently held a national conference on this subject which was very well attended by GPs, health board personnel and other interested parties. The conference threw up a lot of very useful information, debate and issues for further consideration.

The present position is that I am expecting the report of the independent evaluation of the two major GP out of hours co-operatives in the North Eastern and South Eastern Health Boards within the next few weeks. When I have that report I will consider how the entire primary care out of hours response can best be progressed.

As regards the Mid-Western Health Board, I am aware of the work done in that region both by the board and local GPs on developing a GP co-operative. At this time I cannot give a firm commitment in relation to providing ongoing funding for a co-operative project in County Clare from 1 September. However, the position remains as stated in my reply to the Deputy on 13 June 2001 that, given a positive outcome to the evaluation process, I hope to be in a position, in association with the board, to support the project from an appropriate date.