Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004
146 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of the additional funding recently announced by her predecessor to staff and equip new hospital facilities; the source of this funding; the budgetary impact on funding earmarked for mental health and primary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24724/04]
View answerThe full year cost of the new units package recently announced by my predecessor, Deputy Martin, is €85 million in revenue funding and approximately €35 million capital funding in respect of equipping. It has been agreed that €35 million revenue for the projects will come from within the overall funding already available to my Department while the balance falls to be addressed in the context of the 2005 Estimates. The €35 million capital funding will be available from the capital programme.
The new units package includes the opening of new acute psychiatric units at James Connolly Memorial Hospital and Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. There is no budgetary impact on primary care. These new units will significantly enhance and improve service delivery to patients and have been planned in accordance with defined service needs as set out in a number of health related strategies.
