Vol. 560 No. 1
703 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if the review of health spending under the national development plan has been completed; when the results of the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1687/03]
As is normal practice at this time of the year, my Department is reviewing its overall capital programme under the national development plan in the light of final expenditure on projects for last year and revising cashflows for the current year. This is a continuous feature of the monitoring of progress and expenditure of individual capital projects.
The national development plan is a multi-annual programme which provides for enhanced infrastructural investment in the health sector. The plan commenced in 2000 and last year my Department reviewed with the health boards progress and issues arising in the first two and a half years of the plan.
The Deputy may wish to note that a mid-term review of the economic and social infrastructure operational programme, which includes the health measure, under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 will be held in mid-2003. Preparatory work is at present under way in relation to this. The result of this will be published in due course as part of the overall review of the economic and social infrastructure operational programme.
704 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 164 of 21 November 2002, if any decisions have been made regarding the breakdown of the ?514 million, by health board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1715/03]
The total amount of capital funding of €514.384 million available to my Department for 2003 relates to all areas of health care provision including acute hospital service, the non-acute sector, information and communication technology and higher education facilities for the pre-registration nursing degree programme. All existing approved capital contractual commitments in each health board are being funded by my Department on an ongoing basis. My Department is at present examining all capital commitments in the light of the final outturn position for 2002 and revised requirements for projects in 2003 and beyond.
