Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. Teach An Saol provides a valuable service to a number of clients with a severe acquired brain injury, offering an intensive and inclusive neurological and rehabilitation programme informed by best international practice. Funding for individual capital projects is an operational matter for the HSE, which has advised the Department of Health of the position on capital funding as follows.

All Exchequer-funded HSE capital projects must be progressed through correct governance procedures in line with HSE protocols and the public spending code. In this regard, when submitting a capital submission for consideration, there must be a full business case in place alongside a detailed options appraisal, a project brief, robust cost estimates and a comparison of various options to ensure the correct project approach is chosen and value for money is secured. Once a project has been approved at the HSE’s national capital and property steering committee, it is approved only subject to funding. Given that many competing needs and projects are put forward from throughout the country, the project then becomes subject to a prioritisation process each year. No funding, therefore, is allocated to a project until it is prioritised. The prioritisation process for funding allocation in 2024 has happened and funding has been allocated accordingly.

The Teach An Saol development proposal was first highlighted to HSE capital and estates in August 2023 and the requirements for a capital submission and the suite of supporting documents were issued at the time. A series of meetings were held between HSE CHO Dublin north city and county and Teach an Saol. Teach an Saol has been informed about the process and the requirement for appropriate and detailed submissions to ensure the project will be included in the next round of prioritisation for capital funding allocation in 2025. CHO Dublin north city and county has also confirmed to Teach an Saol that it may be assisted to seek the seed capital funding to progress the project and allow it to engage with all relevant stakeholders regarding suitable sites and other issues to be addressed. HSE capital and estates is keen to assist in the project initiation process and has allocated resources to do so but needs to ensure the submission is of sufficient quality and detail to ensure it will be approved subject to funding.

The Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities holds capital project development in disability services as one of her key priorities and wants to ensure capital projects are delivered on time and on budget and that value for money is achieved in order that projects such as Teach an Saol can provide valuable services for citizens.