Vol. 542 No. 2
360 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children if, due to the expanding population in Patrickswell, County Limerick, he will advise the Mid-Western Health Board to provide a health centre at this location. [24316/01]
The provision of health centres to meet the needs of local communities within its functional area is a matter for each health board, including the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the case of the population of Patrickswell, County
Limerick, this responsibility rests with the Mid-Western Health Board.
As with each of the other boards, the Mid-Western Health Board has been notified of the annual indicative funding available under the national development plan, NDP, for the period 2001 to 2006 to facilitate the development of capital projects, including health centres. The identification and prioritisation of projects which may proceed within the indicative funding is a matter for the board.
The board has advised that the health centre located at Dooradoyle, Limerick, provides services for the population of Patrickswell and that there are no plans to change this arrangement. It is, however, planned to develop a major new health centre to replace the existing centre at Dooradoyle. Based on its plans for capital project developments within the indicative funding available to it under the NDP, the board has advised that it will not be possible to proceed with the development of the new health centre at Dooradoyle before 2005.
