The Taoiseach has refused to be drawn on whether he and the Tánaiste were aware as far back as July of locations being proposed for primary care centres by the Health Minister.

It comes after a report in the Sunday Independent yesterday that Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore were told over the summer that James Reilly planned to locate 2 centres in his Dublin-North constituency.

The paper reported that Minister Reilly confirmed that he informed the two men last July about the decision to increase the health centre list from 20 to 35.

The list included sites in Balbriggan and Swords which are in the constituency of Dr. Reilly.

Mr. Reilly has also claimed that Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin was also informed about the extra centres.

Opposition party Fianna Fáil says it believes the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are now implicated in a political stroke.

The row over the locations led to the resignation of Junior Health Minister Roisín Shortall.

When asked 3 times by Midwest Radio this morning if Minister James Reilly had consulted with him and the Tánaiste the Taoiseach failed to answer.

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