The development of Ballymun primary care centre, incorporating area 7 headquarters, was undertaken without the involvement or approval of my Department. It was advanced by the Eastern Health Board and its successors, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Northern Area Health Board, in conjunction with Ballymun Regeneration Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dublin City Council. My Department began an evaluation of this project when the ERHA and the NAHB sought funding for the provision of these facilities and their fit-out last year, as construction work approached completion on site. My Department's evaluation has concentrated to date on confirming all necessary compliance with relevant obligations in respect of public procurement.
The evaluation also addresses the normal criteria applicable to health capital developments, including the scope, the functional content and the overall funding requirements of the project, particularly the recurrent non-capital element involved in this case. On satisfactory completion of this evaluation my Department will be in a position to make a recommendation in respect of the provision of funding for this project. My Department is making every effort to bring this matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.
