Written Answers Nos. 192-203
192. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for national forensic mental health services public private partnership, PPP; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2505/18]
View answer193. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for new specialist intensive care rehab units at Galway; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2506/18]
View answer194. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for new specialist intensive care rehab units at Cork; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2507/18]
View answer195. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for new specialist intensive care rehab units at Galway and Portrane; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2508/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 192 to 195, inclusive, together.
The provision of new facilities to enhance forensic mental health provision nationally is central to modernising mental health services in line with the strategy document A Vision for Change. The delivery of the replacement facility for Central Mental Hospital at Portrane and the Intensive Care Rehabilitation Units (ICRU's) is a phased project. The approved HSE Capital Programme supports the completion of the development at Portrane with the feasibility study to be progressed on Phase II - the relevant ICRUs. Nevertheless, my Department and the HSE will continue to assess delivery strategies and progress as appropriate the ICRU initiatives in the context of evolving service priorities and resource availability.
No national forensic mental health services project is funded as a PPP project. The HSE is responsible for the construction of replacement national forensic mental health facilities at Portrane. This project would comprise the bulk of funding allocated for national forensic mental health services over the multi-annual period 2018-2021. The construction of the Portrane development is currently underway. At this time, for reasons of commercial sensitivity it is not considered appropriate to disclose the funding required to complete this project. Assuming that there are no construction related issues encountered, it is currently projected that construction will be completed in 2019 with a view to the new facility opening in early 2020, following equipping, commissioning and final fit-out stages.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure incurred to date on this project.
196. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for new cancer research departments at Cork University Hospital including five linear accelerators; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2509/18]
View answer197. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for new cancer research departments at University Hospital Galway including four linear accelerators; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2510/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
The provision of new facilities, or other non-capital initiatives, to enhance cancer services nationally is central to modernising cancer care and ensuring that all patients who require cancer treatment in Ireland receive high quality care. There is an on-going need to develop radiation oncology facilities in line with the National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will include new facilities in both Cork and Galway, including the provision of one extra linear accelerator in each hospital.
Work on the new radiation oncology facility at Cork University Hospital is underway. Assuming that there are no construction related issues encountered it is currently projected that the new facility could be fully operational by the end of 2019. As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure to date and the projected expenditure to complete the project.
Planning permission has been granted in respect of the facility at University Hospital Galway. Construction of the project must await the completion of the replacement acute mental health service department, as the NPRO project will be constructed on the site of the existing mental health building. Construction of the replacement mental health building is nearing completion. Further enabling works are required (including the demolition of the old acute mental health unit). Assuming that there are no construction related issues encountered, it is currently projected that the new facility could be fully operational by mid-2021. At this time the tendering process has not been completed or contracts signed and for reasons of commercial sensitivity it is not considered appropriate to disclose the estimated funding required to complete this project.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure incurred to date on this project.
198. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for Beaumont hospital; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2511/18]
View answerHealth capital funding was outlined in the recently published Public Service Estimates for 2018 and the HSE is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2018-2021.
The Government is preparing a new National Development Plan for the period 2018-2027, which is expected to be published alongside and in support of the forthcoming new National Planning Framework, to sustain national economic and social progress over the long term.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure incurred to date on this project.
199. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new direct build primary care facilities; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2512/18]
View answer200. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new public private partnership, PPP, primary care facilities; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2513/18]
View answer201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new operational leasing primary care facilities; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2514/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 201, inclusive, together.
Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances, including the feasibility of implementation. Considerable progress has been made in delivering primary care centres. There are three different methods of delivery: direct build, operational lease, and public private partnership. The mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care centres are dependent on a number of factors. Some of these factors are outside the control of the Health Service Executive. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered / provided / available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to adequate financing.
Over 106 primary care centres are already operational, of which 63 have opened since 2011. There are 35 locations at which primary care infrastructure is under construction or at an advanced planning or design stage under the three different methods of delivery. Of these, 14 are by the Public Private Partnership programme, 11 are by operational lease and 10 are by direct build. A further 47 locations are at an early planning stage.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure incurred to date on this project.
202. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for invest in replacement, upgrade and refurbishment of long-term care facilities for old and disabled persons; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/18]
View answerUnder the State's capital programme Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 which was announced in late 2015, additional funding was allocated for the replacement and refurbishment of community nursing homes and long term residential care facilities for Persons with a Disability. Building on Recovery allocated an additional €237m for community nursing homes and an additional €100m for long term residential care facilities for Persons with a Disability. Over the next five years, this will provide for the replacement and refurbishment of 90 public nursing homes across the country and some facilities for long term residential care facilities for Persons with a Disability.
Significant work has been undertaken by the HSE in determining the most appropriate scheduling of projects over the 5 year period from 2016 to 2021, within the phased provision of funding, to achieve compliance and registration with HIQA. All healthcare infrastructure developments, including this development, must comply with DPER guidelines and EU directives and will require a lead-in time to complete the various stages. These stages include appraisal, project brief, design feasibility, detailed design, some of which may overlap, the review of costing estimates and finalisation of financing.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure incurred to date on these programmes.
203. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided under the capital plan for system wide investment in information communication technology; the amount spent to date; the original timeframe for the completion of the project; the timeframe for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2516/18]
View answerThe eHealth strategy published by the Department of Health in December 2013 informs the capital allocation for eHealth and information and communications technology (ICT) in the capital plan. The latest figures available are for 2017 where ICT capital allocation was €55 million and the total expenditure on eHealth and ICT projects was €54,914,782. Key priority areas for eHealth and ICT projects in 2017 were:
- The refreshment and replacement of existing technology (ongoing);
- National Ambulance Services – equipment replacement programme (ongoing);
- Medical Laboratories Information System (MEDLIS) (funding projected to 2021);
- National Finance System (funding expected through to 2021); and
- Maternal and Newborn Information System (MN-CMS) (funding projected to 2023).
Additional investment in eHealth and ICT was secured by my Department for the period 2018-2021. The capital provision for eHealth and ICT for 2018 to 2021 is set out below and will allow for a multi-annual rolling programme of work on multiple projects.
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
€60 m |
€85 m |
€100m |
€120 m |
The capital provision set out in the table above does not include provision for the full costs outlined for the national Electronic Health Record (EHR) business case. My Department is working closely with the HSE, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other stakeholders to progress the EHR business case. The implementation plan for Sláintecare that is currently being prepared by my Department will also address how eHealth and ICT can support the wider goals of health service reform.
