Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Funding.

Willie Penrose

Question:

143 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of capital and current spending provided by his Department for each of the years 1993 to 1998 to Longford and Westmeath General Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7371/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Capital and current spending has been provided to Longford and Westmeath General Hospital for each of the years 1993 to 1998 as follows :

Year	Non-Capital Budget	Capital Budget
	£m.	£m.
1993	8.524	0.429
1994	8.822	2.267
1995	9.870	3.503
1996	10.530	2.344
1997	12.253	1.169
1998	14.030	0.603

Health boards are notified of the approved level of non-capital expenditure annually.

This may be adjusted to take account of approved pay awards, demand led schemes, superannuation, medical indemnity and PRSI. It is the function of each health board to draw up a service plan setting out its priorities within the approved determination, in particular to decide the current non-capital budget for individual hospitals and major service units.

The capital spending over the years relates to developments at Mullingar Hospital.