Vol. 546 No. 5
164 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children the projects in the national development plan for which funding has been provided as part of the 2002 Abridged Estimates or announced in the Budget Statement; the level of funding provided; the nature of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32365/01]
The total capital funding provided to my Department for health capital projects under the national development plan for 2002, as part of the Abridged Estimates and the recent Budget Statement, is 485.5 million. This will allow for continued and significant development of health infrastructure under the plan next year and includes initiatives relating to acute hospitals, the disabled, older persons, mental health, community health, and the enhancement of services for children requiring care and protection.
The plan also provides for significant investment in the important areas of refurbishment/re-equipment, information and communication technology and education facilities for nursing services. The prioritisation and delivery of projects under the NDP is, in the first instance, a matter for health boards in agreement with my Department.
Given the scope of my Department's current capital programme, and the fact that many smaller capital initiatives are undertaken by health boards at local level, it would not be possible to detail all the projects comprised in the NDP for 2002. However, examples of projects that will be progressed include University College Hospital Galway, phase II, completion of Mayo General Hospital, phase II, continuing works at St. Vincent's University Hospital, St. James's Hospital and James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Dublin, development of Naas General Hospital, Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles – (older persons) – acute psychiatric units in Sligo General Hospital, St. Luke's, Kilkenny, Ennis General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital – mental health – services for the disabled at St. Ita's, Portrane – disability services – Nenagh Health Centre – community health – Dingle Community Hospital – older persons – community nursing unit for older persons and health centre, Birr, high support units-special care units for children at Castleblaney, County Monaghan, Ballydowd, County Dublin, Portrane, County Dublin and Limerick, and community care headquarters and health centre, Tralee.
Of the total funding provided next year, a sum of 40 million has been earmarked for priority initiatives arising from the new health strategy. These include bed capacity, facilities for older people and the disabled, information technology and a number of primary care initiatives including the new primary care model.
