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Health Care Funding.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Ceisteanna (35, 36)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

26 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if planned funding for primary care and mental health facilities are to be deferred for up to three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26332/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Bruton

Ceist:

102 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has reached an agreement with the Department of Finance to spend nearly €2.5 billion on capital programmes over five years to 2008; the breakdown of this funding between the acute and non-acute sectors with a timescale for release of funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26202/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 102 together.

My Department, and the Department of Finance, earlier this year agreed in principle the Capital Investment Framework, CIF, 2004-8, in terms of progressing the health capital programme for this year and in relation to the overall funding levels proposed. The framework will complement and indeed enhance the significant capital developments envisaged for the health sector under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Total health capital expenditure by my Department under the NDP in the period 2000-3 was in the region of €1.7 billion.

The new Health Capital Investment Framework 2004-8 proposes a total funding envelope in the region of €2.7 billion, including provision for a new PPP initiative in relation to infrastructure for services for older persons. This unprecedented level of funding for the health capital programme reaffirms the Government's commitment to providing quality infrastructure to support all health care programmes to the benefit of both client and staff alike. The CIF is intended to enable my Department, and health agencies, to plan and manage more effectively the health capital programme in line with identified service priorities. While the planned funding over the period in question remains subject to the annual Estimates process and a sustainable overall budgetary position, the proposed annual breakdown is as follows:

Year

Total (€m)

2004

509

2005

500

2006

555

2007

575

2008

595

TOTAL

2.734 billion

It has been my Department's policy under the NDP 2000-6 that greater balance should be achieved in relation to capital investment between the acute and non-acute hospital sectors over the lifetime of the plan. This policy will continue under the CIF.

In devising the details of the CIF, various factors had to be taken into consideration. Obviously, account had to be taken of existing contractual commitments, or those scheduled in the near future, to complete projects now under way. This factor applies to both acute and non-acute projects. The question of possible non-capital implications arising from progressing capital projects to various stages is also a significant issue. Also, as is normally the case in any major capital programme, the level of contractual commitments will be greater for the earlier years of a multi-annual plan than for the latter period to 2008. The CIF caters for the continuance of all projects or other capital expenditure planned by my Department.

Many non-acute projects, including mental health and primary care facilities are being progressed through the procurement process. A number of major acute hospital projects are also being progressed and require significant contractual funding commitments for the next few years. It is in this context, allied to the multi-annual nature of funding, that a greater number of non-acute projects was scheduled for the latter period of the framework. This is particularly the case, bearing in mind all the circumstances and complex factors governing the planning and delivery of the health CIF, including the timescales involved in delivering the larger projects in the non-acute sector. In the circumstances, it is not correct to say that funding for the non-acute sector, including the primary care or mental health areas, has been deferred for three years. Various levels of funding for all health care programmes will be progressed under the framework and in line with overall funding resources available.

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