John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the progress being made regarding the provision of a specialised Alzheimer unit for St. Ita's Hospital, Newcastle West County Limerick. [18707/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in the Limerick area rests with the Health Service Executive mid western area in the first instance.

As part of the executive's responsibility to prepare and submit an annual service plan for the Tánaiste's 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.

Capital funding for the health service is now largely provided through the Health Service Executive in line with the capital investment framework 2005-09. This amounts to €564 million in 2005. I am awaiting further clarification by the Health Service Executive of certain non-capital funding issues.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans for the future of a home (details supplied) in County Galway; the plans her Department has received from the Western Health Board; if those plans have been approved by her Department; the cost of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18708/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive — HSE — which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the proposed developments at St. Brendan's, Loughrea.

The HSE western area has prepared a project planning brief for the development of a 40-bedded community nursing unit in Loughrea with expansion to 80 beds. This brief was prepared by a multi-disciplinary team and the group proposed a number of units based in the major population centres of Tuam, Loughrea and Ballinasloe as the east Galway centres as set out in the Western Health Board strategy called Health and Wellbeing for Older People. This proposal is included as part of the HSE's capital investment framework for 2005-09. As responsibility for the development of services now rests with the HSE, any decisions relating to this project will be a matter for the HSE having regard to the western area's overall capital funding priorities in the context of the HSE's service plan for 2005.