Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
322. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding to be made available to County Louth in view of recent announcements of a €2 billion investment over the next three years as phase one of the ten year plan of investment in healthcare infrastructure and equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41610/19]
View answer323. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the stages of development for projects (details supplied) in County Louth under the HSE ten year capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41611/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together.
The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021. The capital plan outlines projects to be progressed over the three-year period and also sets out the current status of all projects within the programme, including a number of projects in Co. Louth.
The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects and has advised the current stage of development of the projects as follows:
- Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda: construction has been completed and is currently at the equipping and commissioning stage. Some of the wards and the ED are already operational while the five new theatres and remaining wards are expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
- St Mary's Hospital, Drogheda: the phased development is at planning and design stage. A planning application was submitted to Louth County Council earlier this year. Further information was requested by the local authority and this has recently been submitted by the HSE.
- Ardee Community Nursing Unit: to be delivered as part of a bundle of facilities by Public Private Partnership (PPP). A design team has been appointed and a planning application has recently been lodged in respect of this project.
- Ardee ambulance base: currently at design stage.
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 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.
