Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 January 2016
339. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number and location of projects in the Louth-East Meath constituency that will be funded under the Health Service Executive capital budget for 2016; if the proposed 100-bed unit for St. Mary's Hospital on the Dublin Road in Drogheda in County Louth will be included in that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2919/16]
View answerThe HSE has submitted its draft Capital Plan for the multi-annual period 2016-2021. This is being reviewed. It requires my approval together with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. When approved the HSE will publish the schedule of projects on its website.
There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the health care infrastructure, including St Mary's Hospital and other projects in counties Louth and Meath, must be considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Plans for capital investment in public nursing homes between now and 2021 are in the course of being finalised, and details will be made available once this process is complete. In the acute care context any future investment must be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme and establishment of hospital groups. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise its services to provide optimal care to the populations it serves. The HSE is concentrating on applying the funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.
