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Health Board Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2004

Tuesday, 2 November 2004

Ceisteanna (162)

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

228 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the provision of funding to the Southern Health Board to develop a project (details supplied). [26991/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Southern Health Board, SHB, has submitted to my Department a public private partnership, PPP, proposal for eight community nursing units, CNUs, which will provide an additional 400 beds for respite, convalescence, long stay and rehabilitation services, to elderly patients in its catchment area. One of the proposed CNUs will be located at Sarsfield Court Hospital, Glanmire. It has been agreed with the SHB that in view of the health services reform programme that the central services unit, CSU, which was to be located at Sarsfield Court Hospital, is not being included as part of the consideration of the PPP project. It will now be considered separately in the context of the health services reform programme.

Work has been under way in the Department of Health and Children on a proposal for a public private partnership investment scheme for 400 community nursing units in the Southern Health Board region. There have also been discussions between my Department and the Department of Finance in the development of this PPP scheme, as is normal and entirely appropriate with PPP projects.

These are complex schemes and it is important to have a clear view of the benefits that will accrue given the complexity of the PPP contracting structure. The work that has been done so far has helped to clarify a number of issues. I intend to examine this project in detail very soon. The putting in place of a large number of nursing units will greatly help people make the transition from an acute hospital setting to care matched to their needs.

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