Vol. 520 No. 1
232 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the new services or extension of existing services contained in the new national development plan funded by his Department which have commenced or will commence in the south Kildare constituency during 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15250/00]
234 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the capital programmes contained in the national development plan and funded by his Department which has commenced in the south Kildare constituency during 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15265/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 234 together.
The capital requirements of the Eastern Regional Health Authority under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, including those relating to the south Kildare area, are being considered at present by the authority. I understand that the capital development proposals being drawn up by the ERHA under the national development plan will shortly be submitted to the authority for approval. It will then be a matter for my Department to consider the authority's plan with a view to confirming the overall national development plan funding levels already notified to the ERHA.
Following agreement between my Department and the ERHA on the overall national development plan funding figures, individual capital projects will remain subject over the life of the plan to the normal criteria governing projects such as specific approvals, costings, construction dates and the influence of the overall capital priorities pertaining at any particular time. The question of new or extended service provision will also be examined in detail in the context of national development plan priorities.
In regard to 2000, the question of what capital projects are funded this year depends on the draw down by the authority for individual projects as liabilities mature for payment. This includes the provision recently of £16 million additional capital funding to the authority for equipment and refurbishment works in 2000 across all health service areas. Other possible initiatives for the ERHA area for this year will also be considered by the authority and my Department.
