Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not interfere in the policy decisions made by line Departments, in this case the Department of Health and the HSE. When it comes to improving facilities and delivering new infrastructure, such decisions are made by them. What we insist on is that the PSC and the approval process be conducted properly and fully complied with. The strategic assessment report that the Deputy referred to is the first step. It involves an examination of the various options. A project then proceeds to the next step, namely, the preliminary business case. The line Department brings the project through the various stages. It comes to the Government if it is a large-scale project costing more than €100 million.

I will examine the issues that the Deputy has raised, particularly the application of the PSC and the approval process. If she wishes to furnish me with the two conflicting items of correspondence, we will try to get a coherent response for her that sets out the factual position.

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