Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005
156 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the date of publication of the capital investment programme for her Department for 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15170/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra157 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when funding for capital projects by her Department will be announced; if funding for Ennis General Hospital will be included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15178/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.
The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, established on 1 January 2005, to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for progressing the bulk of the health capital programme in 2005 and in future years. My Department has retained the direct provision of capital funding for a small number of health agencies and I will forward a copy of this programme to the Deputy when it has been formally sanctioned.
The HSE service plan for 2005 was recently approved by me and, as required by relevant legislation, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The detailed capital funding programme for 2005 is being finalised in the context of the capital investment framework 2005-09. This process will be concluded in the near future and the HSE will then be in a position to decide on publication and to progress its capital programme for this year, in line with overall funding resources available for 2005 or beyond. This process will involve, as appropriate, new contractual commitments for individual projects through either the design, construction or equipping stages, taking account of the future non-capital funding implications of such commitments in 2005. An outline development control plan for the proposed capital development at Ennis General Hospital has recently been prepared. I understand that the question of appointing a design team for this project is being considered by the HSE in the context of finalising the overall capital programme for this year.
