Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 April 2017
233. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new primary care facilities (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18777/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new primary care facilities (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18778/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new primary care facilities (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18779/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 235, inclusive, together.
The Government is fully committed to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. Primary Care Centres (PCCs) facilitate the shift from acute care towards primary care because of the range of multi-disciplinary services they can provide and the role they can play in keeping people who don't need to be in an acute setting out of hospital.
During the period of the Government’s Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021, as part of the €3 billion for investment in Health infrastructure, additional primary care facilities will be provided across the country. This will build on the 99 PCCs already operational, of which 56 were delivered since March 2011.
The mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. 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 constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances, including the feasibility of implementation.
The latest information provided to me by the HSE is that there are currently 37 projects in construction or at advance planning stage under the three delivery methods - 14 through Public Private Partnership (PPP), 12 direct build by the HSE and 11 by way of operational leasing. In addition, there are a further 47 at early planning stage, all by operational lease. In relation to the 14 PPP projects, the HSE will pay the PPP company a total annual unitary charge payment of circa €17m, in monthly instalments. At the end of the 25 year contract, the centres will be handed over to the HSE who will become responsible for the facility management services provided by the PPP company.
The HSE’s 2017 National Service Plan (Appendix 4) details the projected construction, equipping completion and operational dates for 22 PCCs that are under construction and to be completed in 2017 or Quarter 1 2018. It is not possible to provide the value of the investment of the PCCs to be delivered through the operational lease mechanism. Successful developers may build a new facility or modify existing buildings to meet the HSE's requirements or specification.
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of PCCs, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy on projects underway - in addition to the 22 referred to above - and on expenditure to date on direct build PCCs.
