John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 110: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the design team will be appointed to the project at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny as announced by her Department three years ago; if the plans for this project have been received by her Department; if the plans will be approved and allowed to go to local authority planning stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18816/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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A design brief was prepared some time ago by the South Eastern Health Board for a major redevelopment at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. This formed part of the board's overall proposals under the National Development Plan, NDP, 2000-2006, and was submitted to my Department. Given the various competing demands overall for capital priorities under the NDP, including the need to take account of non-capital implications of capital proposals, it has not been possible to date to progress this particular project.

As the Deputy will be aware, 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 considering new capital proposals or progressing those already in train, under the health capital investment framework 2005-2009.

It is therefore a matter for the HSE to consider any proposed development of the type specified, in the context of its overall priorities and funding resources.