Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 236: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the significant changes which have been implemented by her Department to date in 2005 in delivering the national spatial strategy; and the costs, benefits and savings that have accrued. [34075/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Health policies and programmes, including the health capital programme, support the objectives of the national spatial strategy, especially that of balanced regional development. The Department participates in the interdepartmental committee on implementation of the strategy.

The objectives of the spatial strategy, which is underpinned in the health sector for example by the national development plan and the multi-annual capital investment framework, are being achieved this year through the delivery of new and upgraded health infrastructure throughout the country. In this context, the Health Service Executive which was established on 1 January 2005 now has responsibility for the delivery of health and personal social services. One of the primary responsibilities of the executive is to deliver services, both capital and non-capital, to ensure maximum benefits accrue to staff, clients or all those otherwise availing of health services.