Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators Ulick Burke and Kitt for raising this matter and welcome the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. Significant capital funding for the health sector has been provided since the commencement of the national development plan in 2000. Total expenditure for the period 2000-03 was approximately €1.7 billion.

Considerable progress has been made in addressing the historical deficits in health infrastructure and improving the standards of facilities required for quality, modern patient care. The NDP provides considerable capital funding for services for older people. On a national basis, this will enable a comprehensive infrastructure of community nursing units and day-care facilities to be put in place as well as the refurbishment of existing extended-care facilities and the replacement of old workhouse type accommodation. Older people deserve first-class facilities and we intend to provide them in appropriate locations.

As the House will be aware, the Health Act 2004 established the Health Service Executive which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the proposed developments at St. Brendan's Hospital, Loughrea. The HSE, western area, has stated the project planning brief for the development of a 40-bed community nursing unit in Loughrea with expansion to 80 beds was signed off on 17 November 2005. It will now go to tender for the appointment of a design team.

Approval has been granted to bring the project to the design stage. The HSE has advised that the local multidisciplinary team, which will advise on the design, has been appointed. This proposal is included as part of the HSE's capital investment framework for 2005-09. The HSE has outlined that the replacement community nursing unit will be located on the grounds of the St. Brendan's Hospital campus and will be used to facilitate the transfer of residents currently placed on the upper floors of the original building. As responsibility for the development of health services now rests with the HSE, any decisions relating to this project will be a matter for it, having regard to its overall capital funding priorities.