Health Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2015

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

Questions (439)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

439. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the proposed day care centre for a town in County Cork (details supplied) that was originally allowed to proceed by the Health Service Executive in December 2008; if planning permission was granted in December 2011 in view of a letter issuing in 2012 from the HSE area manager stating that the project had been halted due to lack of funds in the capital development plan; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that planning permission is only granted for a period of five years, and that time is running out on this project and funding urgently needs to be provided for this extremely important development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4602/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As with all infrastructure projects this particular project must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet needs now and in the future.