Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the capital expenditure in each acute hospital during 2005, 2006 and 2007; and the capital allocations or approvals in respect of each acute hospital for 2008. [25305/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government's sustained high level of investment in healthcare has enabled the completion and commissioning of numerous new facilities in both the acute and the non-acute sectors. This year, under the National Development Plan, capital funding of approximately €594m has been provided to the Health Service Executive.

Responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services including estate management was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore the Executive is the appropriate body to respond to the particular queries raised by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

In relation to acute hospital approvals for 2008, the Health Service Executive's draft Capital Plan sets out the Executive's capital investment proposals over the period 2008-2013. The project proposals contained in the plan have, following a detailed process of consideration, been prioritised by the Executive so as to fit within indicative funding levels under the National Development Plan. The draft plan has been submitted for approval by my Department with the agreement of the Minister for Finance. Consideration of the draft plan by both departments is now at an advanced stage and I expect the specific developments for this year to be approved shortly, following which details of the projects being progressed will be announced by the Executive.