Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - Health Services.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

146 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will make decisions on the capital proposal from the North Eastern Health Board submitted to him earlier in 2001, especially the situation regarding the Monaghan General Hospital project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20327/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The capital programme for the health services under the national development plan represents a major initiative by the Government to radically improve the infrastructure of the service. My Department has overall strategic responsibility for the NDP so as to develop the health service infrastructure in a co-ordinated and effective manner. The prioritisation and delivery of individual capital projects at local level is primarily a matter for the health boards.

A sum of £2 billion was provided at the launch of the plan for the health service nationally for the period 2000 to 2006. 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.

In relation to 2001 to 2006, capital funding was indicated to health boards for each of those years for various care programmes such as disability services, child care and acute hospitals. The actual funding available each year to individual health boards will depend on a number of factors including adjustments in respect of various issues such as inflation, changing service priorities, technological developments, new clinical practices, progress on the delivery of specific projects and market capacity in the construction industry.

The development of Monaghan General Hospital is a matter for the North Eastern Health Board. A project team has been appointed. It is currently examining acute hospital services in the NEHB region, including the Monaghan site which is part of the Cavan/Monaghan Hospital group.

The funding in relation to this initiative will be considered in the context of the £160 million funding made available to the board under the national development plan to prioritise and develop acute hospital services in its area.