Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

While a request for an update on the health capital programme would be best directed to the Minister for Health and Children, we passed legislation a couple of years ago at my initiative where the NDFA became the centre of excellence for PPP provision across Departments, and it is interesting that Deputy Burton is supportive of that PPP proposal. At the end of the day the NDFA gives the financial advice and suggests ways and means by which these things can be done. I do not know the position beyond that other than that obviously they have been looking at that in the area of health in the same way as they have been doing in housing, on the environment and in projects in other Departments.

The decision to centralise a centre of excellence within the NDFA in terms of trying to promote PPP provision and ensuring that Departments did not have their own PPP units, which was the case, goes back to the shared service idea which Deputy Bruton mentioned in his contribution. The benefit of that is clear for all to see. It helps to take the matter from within Departments and to have people specialise in that particular area because of the complexity and the amount of work and detailed preparation that must go into ensuring that it is done in the appropriate fashion, meeting the public service benchmarks that are also set out as part of ensuring value for money in the application of PPPs. I cannot say anything more than that on the issue. Given the Deputy's interest in this area, it would be best to see if I can get a more detailed note for Report Stage and Deputies might be able to talk about it at that stage.

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