Dr James Reilly, Minister for Health, commented that "The primary care infrastructure model offers a good fit for the public private partnership financing. The Programme for Government states that expenditure on health infrastructure will be a priority. This new stimulus package will underpin progress to date and provide a much needed jobs boost. This PPP initiative will complement and build on the processes HSE has already put in place in its capital programme.
In addition, Minister Reilly announced that 270 new staff will be recruited to work in primary care. "Key frontline staff will be recruited, funded by a special allocation of €20m which was set aside as part of the HSE's 2012 national service plan to fill posts in primary care.
The funding will provide for the employment of 17 clinical nurse specialists to support the Integrated Care Diabetes Programme as well as 255 other primary care posts including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.