Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have called previously for a debate on the capital health plan. Many projects are in planning but we had a debate at the Joint Committee on Health this morning, not on capital infrastructure but on the unique health identifier, etc. The comment was made by the witnesses appearing before the committee that they will still need five, seven or eight years to develop that system even if they get the permissions from Government to proceed with the business case, etc. For any capital project now, whether it be in the health sector or anywhere else, from start to finish one could bw talking five to ten years or more to progress them and that has led to an element of disbelief among public about what is going on. Even when contractors can be appointed to a project, people will still generally not believe that it will progress unless they see the machines digging up the ground and clearing a site.There is absolutely a need to progress capital projects. I know the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has a new title with regard to the delivery of the national development plan and I know the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is very much across all the health projects that are necessary in this country. Between both of them, there should be a debate on our national development plan or capital plans with regard to how they can be progressed. I know there is a review under way of the public spending code. Much can be discussed in this House with regard to health and the capital plan. I call for both the Ministers, Deputies Donnelly and Donohoe, to come in at the earliest opportunity to discuss delivery of projects because, at the end of the day, people need to see delivery. They expect delivery, be it on roads, health or a range of other issues. There are delays, some of which need to be expedited. Government action is needed with regard to targeting certain projects that can be delivered. I look forward, at the earliest opportunity, to a debate with the Ministers, Deputies Donnelly and Donohoe.