James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if construction of the new National Rehabilitation Hospital facility in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, will commence in 2009; if so, the quarter in which it will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21889/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive have been involved in ongoing discussions with the National Rehabilitation Hospital regarding its development proposals.

Clearly, development proposals such as this need to be considered within the context of an overall policy for the delivery of the relevant service. In the case of rehabilitation, there is an increasing demand, not just in Dublin but across the country, for new services and a growing requirement to enhance existing services.

Against that background, in July 2008, the Department of Health and Children and the Heath Service Executive established a Working Group to develop a policy for the provision of rehabilitation services. Its terms of reference include the development of an appropriate policy framework for rehabilitation and a preferred model of care for the provision of rehabilitation services.

The Deputy will appreciate the need to ensure that the proposed development at the National Rehabilitation Hospital is in keeping with any future policy direction determined by the Minister in the light of the work of this Group. The Group is due to report later this year.

The proposed development at the National Rehabilitation Hospital will be considered further in the light of the findings and recommendations of the Working Group on the Provision of Rehabilitation Services, available health capital funding and other competing investment priorities.