Vol. 560 No. 5
99 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide the necessary funding to allow for the expansion of a scheme (details supplied); his views on whether such a scheme is a vital and useful service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3131/03]
I believe that the GP co-operative schemes now running in every health board area represent a quality-based approach, founded on co-operation and partnership between the stakeholders, to enhanced availability of general practitioner out of hours services. My Department's allocation in the Abridged Estimates volume for 2003 includes funding for the expansion of general practitioner out of hours co-operatives. The allocation of this funding will be determined following a series of meetings being convened by my Department with each of the health boards, including the Southern Health Board, wishing to expand their out of hours co-operatives in 2003.
