Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 2

Written Answers - National Development Plan.

Phil Hogan

Question:

293 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the capital projects which will be undertaken in the Southern Health Board area in the next three years; the likely costs in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13684/01]

Phil Hogan

Question:

294 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total amount of funding from the national development plan which will be invested in the Southern Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13685/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together.

The Southern Health Board has primary responsibility for the implementation of the health services element of the national development plan within its area, including the prioritisation and delivery of capital projects. Individual projects envisaged under the plan, including those for the next three years, will be subject to approval by my Department to maximise the use of funding made available under the NDP. The total costs involved in projects are subject to review to take account of inflation, phasing, scope changes etc. In strategically managing the NDP, my Department is reviewing the plan for each board, including the Southern Health Board, in the light of various influences affecting capital projects. These include changing service priorities, building inflation and capacity pressures generally in the construction industry.

Given the scope of individual projects proposed under the health board's plan, and the evolving nature of capital projects generally, it would not be possible for me to provide the detailed information on separate projects sought by the Deputy. Should the Deputy wish to know the current position on these, this information should be sought directly from the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board.

As 2000 was the first year of the NDP for the health services, transitional arrangements applied in relation to capital funding for health boards to ensure that existing commitments were met, while allowing scope for various new approvals throughout the country. The expenditure in the Southern Health Board area for 2000 was approximately £34.24 million across both the acute hospital and the non-acute hospital sectors. A sum of £248.25 million was indicated at the launch of the national development plan for the Southern Health Board area for 2001-06. This amount will be subject to review each year in the context of the various factors, such as inflation, governing the NDP.