I propose to take Questions Nos. 1597 and 1598 together.
In March of this year, a proposal was approved by the HSE’s National Capital Property Steering Committee that revises a 2016 decision to replace the existing long term residential beds in Stranorlar and Ramelton, and recommends retention and refurbishment of the units at an additional capital cost of €6m. The new unit in Letterkenny also remains part of the proposed plan.
The HSE’s Capital Investment Programme for Community Nursing Units 2016 to 2021 for Public Residential Care Centres for Older People set out the HSE’s proposals for the replacement of 33 existing centres and the refurbishment or extension of 58 centres at a cost of €535 million. The Plan was submitted to the Department of Health in January 2016.
The programme which was announced on 26 January 2016 included the development of a new 130 bed centre, centrally located in Letterkenny, to ensure that bed capacity in the region, which includes Ramelton, Lifford and Stranorlar was secured on a sustainable basis. The plan provided that the new unit in Letterkenny would be developed through PPP or alternative measures to replace existing units in Stranorlar, Ramelton and Lifford which currently provide 117 beds in total. The cost of the original proposal was estimated at €23.05m.
The HSE wrote to the Department in May seeking approval for the changes. The Department of Health has sought additional information from the HSE in order to consider the revised proposal. Engagement between the HSE and the Department is ongoing at the moment.
Project Ireland 2040 which was launched earlier this year commits to the provision of 4,500 additional beds in community hospitals.
