As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in County Cork rests with the Southern Health Board in the first instance. The board has advised my Department that it purchased a site from Cork City Council for the construction of a new day care centre for older people and a family resource centre. My Department has received stage two documentation from the board with regard to these projects. My Department, by letter dated 12 October 2004, has given approval to the board to proceed to stage three of the planning process and to lodge a full planning application for planning permission to Cork County Council.
The board has identified the need for a new day care centre for older people as one of its priorities for capital funding and it has confirmed that this project needs to proceed in tandem with the provision of a family resource centre on the site. My Department will continue to liaise with the board with regard to these projects in line with the board's priorities for capital investment and having regard to resources available to my Department under the capital investment framework 2004-08.