Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the capital projects in the health area for which funding has been provided and which are expected to commence in 2005; if further such capital allocations will be made during this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15349/05]

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she announced the capital programme for 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15452/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 143 together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, established on 1 January 2005, to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for progressing the bulk of the health capital programme in 2005 and in future years.

The HSE service plan for 2005 was recently approved by me and, as required by relevant legislation, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The detailed capital funding programme for 2005 is currently being finalised in the context of the capital investment framework, CIF, for 2005-09. This process will be concluded in the near future. The HSE will then be in a position to decide on publication and to progress its capital programme for this year.

This process involves making provision for commitments carrying forward from 2004 and initiating new contractual commitments for individual projects, in line with overall funding resources available for this year or beyond. The question of approving further capital funding during the course of the year will be kept under review by the HSE in the light of the delivery of the programme.

In addition to the Exchequer capital funding for the HSE, my Department has retained direct provision of capital funding for a small number of health agencies. The details of this programme are also being finalised in the context of the CIF. My Department will inform relevant agencies of funding in this regard when this programme has been formally sanctioned.