Can the Minister give the House an assurance that within the new range of services which he envisages and the new aids and assistance which he proposes providing under the new scheme there will be some element of grant towards the capital costs of extending existing health services?

Within the general medical service — I presume this is what the Deputy is referring to — there is an increased allocation to improve the level of general practice. At present discussions are ongoing with the Irish Medical Organisation to work out the details of how the level of general practice might be improved from the development fund. There are many issues involved — the amount of allocation to a particular practice, the size of the practice, etc. Discussions are ongoing at present with the Irish Medical Organisation.