Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if funding will be provided for the immediate construction of the proposed new hospital in Dingle, County Kerry, in view of the fact that a site is being made available without any cost to the State. [7726/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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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.

I have received the Health Service Executive's national service plan and it is being examined by my Department, in consultation with the HSE, at present.