Bernard Allen
Ceist:537 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the reduction in funds ringfenced for primary care implementation projects in 2003. [12308/03]
Written Answers. - Primary Care Strategy.
In October 2002 I gave approval to the establishment of an initial ten primary care implementation projects, one in each health board area. The projects will involve putting in place in ten locations throughout the country a primary care team in line with the model described in the primary care strategy. As the ten projects are developed, more than 80,000 clients will benefit from having direct access to an improved range of services provided by their primary care team.
There has been no reduction in the level of funding allocated to these implementation projects. Funding totalling €8.4 million has been provided for this purpose in 2002 and 2003. Revenue funding of €877,000 was provided for 2002, and this allocation was increased to €4.5 million for 2003. Once-off capital funding of €2 million and a further €1 million in respect of information and communications technology supports for the teams were also provided in 2002.
Question No. 538 withdrawn.