Bernard Allen
Question:329 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if all the capital projects for the health services which were to be funded under the national development plan are to go ahead. [13578/03]
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
My Department is reviewing its overall capital programme under the national development plan, NDP, in the light of overall expenditure last year and revising cashflows for projects for the current year and beyond. This is a continuous feature of monitoring progress and expenditure of individual projects to ensure efficient delivery of capital developments in line with funding resources available.
The NDP is a multi-annual programme which provides for enhanced infrastructural investment in the health sector over the years 2000-06. Total capital expenditure of over €1.1 billion has been undertaken by my Department for the first three years of the plan, to the end of 2002. This has allowed progress in addressing the historical deficits that existed in the health service and has provided improvements in service delivery across all areas of the system.
The Deputy may wish to note that a mid-term review of the economic and social infrastructure operational programme, which includes the health measure, under the National Development Plan 2000-06 will be held in mid-2003. Preparatory work is at present under way in relation to this.