Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Senator for continuing to keep this issue firmly on the agenda. I am sure this bit of friendly pressure has helped in terms of delivering this project. The current national development plan, NDP, provision is fully allocated annually, underpinned by a strong pipeline of capital projects being progressed by the HSE and the Department of Health, including several new hospitals and significant new facilities for existing hospitals and community-based services. Within the current NDP, the Government has agreed gross voted capital allocations for the period from 2021 to 2025.

The capital development project at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, will construct 92 replacement CNU beds, with accommodation in line with current HIQA standards. Strategic reform in the model of delivery of care of older people is currently under way in pursuit of the goal of supporting older people to remain living independently in their own homes and communities for longer. This will involve a shift in the provision of health and social care services from hospitals to community settings, in line with the Sláintecare goal of people receiving the right care in the right place at the right time. For those who avail of long-term residential care, however, it is critical that the public investment in this infrastructure is maintained at the level that enables the appropriate standards to be met and the public residential care capacity to increase in the coming years. The ongoing successful implementation of the HIQA CNU programme, including the development at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, will contribute to achieving this goal. I will take the Senator's message back to the Minister for Health.