Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2019
187. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if capital funding is being included in 2020 plans for the expansion of an intensive care unit at Tallaght University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40099/19]
View answerThe Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining 250 projects to be progressed over the three-year period.
The Capital Plan includes a number of developments at Tallaght University Hospital such as the renal dialysis unit and the intensive care unit.
The HSE is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects and has advised that renal dialysis project is currently under construction and is funded to completion.
Meanwhile, the expansion and upgrade of the intensive care unit is at design stage and is expected to progress to the construction stage once the renal dialysis development has been completed.
It is important to recognise that all capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement, before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established. The final decision to proceed with the construction of a project cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable, and that sufficient funding is available to fund the project to completion, including equipping and commissioning costs.
The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, which can impact on the timeline for delivery.
The HSE actively manages the capital programme in order to ensure it has flexibility to progress as many projects as possible within the available funding, particularly in the event of any project not progressing as anticipated.
