Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the decisions which have been made in regard to the draft planning brief submitted by the South Eastern Health Board for capital developments at Waterford Regional Hospital which includes the provision of a new oncology and haematology department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1329/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As part of the executive's responsibility to prepare and submit an annual service plan for my approval, it is obliged under section 31 of the Act to indicate any capital plans proposed by the executive. In this process the executive can be expected to have regard to the full range of potential capital developments, its own criteria in determining priorities, available resources and any other relevant factors.

My Department is awaiting the 2005 service plan from the Heath Service Executive. In the interim, my Department has asked the chief executive of the Health Service Executive, south eastern area, to investigate the position on to this project and to reply directly to the Deputy.