To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he has plans to extend a pilot scheme by his Department whereby extra funding was supplied for rural community pharmacies in Northern Ireland.

The pilot scheme was established and evaluated by the HSC Board and provided funding to support patient access to pharmacy services in predominantly rural areas.

I have been advised by the Board that they have notified the pharmacies involved that the pilot has reached a conclusion and that the Board is now considering next steps in conjunction with Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI). The Board expects that there will now be a transitional phase and a move to a longer–term arrangement to support the delivery of pharmaceutical services in rural areas.