Thomas Gould
Question:174. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has received a business proposal for the new elective hospital in County Cork; and if not, when he expects to receive same. [55908/21]
View answerThursday, 2 December 2021
Questions (174)
Written answers
The provision of additional elective care delivery capability in Cork, Galway, and Dublin is a stated Government policy objective.
The Elective Hospitals Oversight Group, under the joint governance of the HSE, Department of Health and Sláintecare, is guiding the development of the elective hospitals. The development of three elective hospitals will require significant infrastructural investment and therefore the Oversight Group is following the process outlined in the updated Public Spending Code (PSC), setting out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of large public investment projects.
The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities.
All capital development proposals must progress through several approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated PSC, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.
The specific requirements that must be included in a business case at the various stages of the PSC, are detailed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/public-spending-code/.
A Preliminary Business Case (PBC) for new elective hospitals, including in County Cork, was submitted to the Department of Health in September 2021 and is currently being reviewed within the Department in line with the requirements of the PSC. If technically compliant and approved, the PBC will be further reviewed by the Department of Expenditure and Reform. Subject to all PSC requirements at Gate 1 being met, a Memorandum for Government seeking approval-in-principle to proceed to the next stage of the PSC could be brought forward in the near future.