asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the total inadequacy of the existing health centre in Inchicore, Dublin 12; when he intends to build the new centre for which a site was provided seven years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inchicore (Dublin) Health Centre.
16.
I am aware that health centre services are provided from a temporary premises at Inchicore pending the building of a new permanent health centre on a site at Emmet Road. The new health centre has been approved in principle by my Department and the services to be provided there have been agreed with the Eastern Health Board.
The inclusion of a particular building project in a public capital programme for any year is dependent on the extent of funds available and while the Eastern Health Board has included the health centre at Inchicore among its building schemes, the Deputy will appreciate that the demand for health centres in the greater Dublin region in general far exceeds available capital resources.
The Minister did not indicate in his reply when he expects the Eastern Health Board to be in a position to build this particular health centre.
Could he give us some indication; will it be this year, next year, ten years' time, or 20 years' time?
No, I am not in a position to say precisely when. As the Deputy is aware the health boards establish their own priorities in conjunction with the Department. Given the need, in the greater Dublin area, for many more health centres where there are no facilities laid on they would be an urgent priority and I would not foresee the building of this one in the very immediate future.
Would the Minister accept that the reason there are so many projects on the waiting list in the Eastern Health Board area is the rapid growth of that area? Would he accept further that the reason they cannot make progress with those projects is that they are not receiving sufficient capital to ensure that they can cater for the needs of the growing population?
As the Deputy is aware, capital is a scarce resource today; we are all aware of that. While it is only a temporary building for the health centre in Inchicore, there are other areas in the greater Dublin area which require immediate attention and they must receive priority from any capital resources available. But I want to point out that it is included in the Eastern Health Board's plans. I would be hopeful that they would deal with it fairly quickly but I cannot put a time limit on it.
Would the Minister accept that, when the Eastern Health Board are asked when they will provide this health centre, they reply: when they get the money from the Minister or the Department? Could the Minister indicate when the Department intend to provide money for this health centre?
Naturally the health board will say they are awaiting funds. They have an insatiable appetite for more money; all health boards have. Naturally, when they are asked a question about a particular area, they say that if they had the money they would build. That is the soft option as far as the health boards are concerned. They get their capital allocation to develop their resources every year. They have options they can exercise in that area in conjunction with the Department. Therefore, it is not good enough for the health board to say they are awaiting money. They know their capital allocation and know what they can do within that capital allocation. I do not accept that it is just a question of awaiting money, because every health board and every other board in the country would lodge large bills for further development if capital was available. But capital is at present a scarce resource and must be used where it is most needed. I believe that is the way it should be.
Would the Minister accept that the capital allocation to the Eastern Health Board is not keeping abreast of the growth of the area and their needs, because there is a very special problem in that area where there is a population growing at a great rate?
I am quite aware that it is a very large health board area. That is taken into consideration. Every year we look at the allocations but I do not think the Deputy would agree to taking money from the allocations to other health boards and giving it to the Eastern Health Board. There is a given sum of money for the general health board schemes and we allocate as fairly as possible.
I agree that——
We cannot have a debate.
——the money should not come from other health board areas. Having regard to the urgency of these projects, surely the Minister would agree that it was a mistake to take £2 million from the previous Government's allocation.
That is a matter for a budget debate, not Question Time.