Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2013
619. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if the €50 million transferred from the Health Service Executive capital budget to current expenditure will have any impact on projects already agreed by the HSE and in particular primary care centres. [54261/13]
View answerThe HSE has advised that all capital projects including Primary Care Centres approved in the Capital Plan 2013 have been progressed in the current year.
However, the HSE's expected capital savings to year-end are due to a number of factors:
- Major projects such as the Children's Hospital are at an early stage in their lifecycles.
- The procurement of design teams and contractors is taking much longer than expected due to the level of challenges being experienced.
- There are also delays in site commencement by contractors.
- Savings on the equipment replacement programme and minor capital tenders.
- The disposal of surplus assets is proving difficult in terms of achieving the €8m target. Success in disposing of surplus properties is primarily dependent on the market.
The capital savings, in the region of €50m will be used as part of measures to address the revenue deficit on a once-off basis.
