Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason two pilot PPP community nursing home projects have not progressed to the stage of tender procurement; if the Department of Finance has expressed objections to this project; if so, if she will report on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12558/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Work has been under way in my Department on the proposals for the two public private partnership pilot projects to deliver 850 community nursing unit beds and the work undertaken so far has helped to clarify a number of issues. As appropriate with major health sector developments there are continuing discussions between my Department and the Department of Finance.

I am aware that additional long stay bed capacity is required to relieve pressure on the acute hospital and community care programme and I will be pursuing the need to deliver such capacity with the Minister for Finance as a matter of high priority. The provision of these additional long stay beds must be considered in the context of the capital investment programme and current funding requirements attached to capital projects.