Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, in view of her instruction to the Health Service Executive in February 2009 that no new commitments and contracts were to be entered into without her Department's specific approval, if she will give approval to the HSE to complete the design to tender stage for the urgently required accident and emergency extension and obstetrics theatre and delivery suite at Wexford General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25025/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Pending the announcement of the revised capital envelope in the April Supplementary Budget, the specific approval of the Department of Finance was required for all proposed new capital projects.

The Health Service Executive is currently revising its Capital Plan to take account of the revised capital funding envelope for the period to 2013 as provided for following the Supplementary Budget. In determining its capital programme, the Health Service Executive is required to prioritise the capital infrastructure projects to be progressed within its overall capital funding allocation, taking account of the targets for apportionment of capital investment between the Acute and Primary, Community & Continuing Care programmes and the contractual commitments in place from earlier years.

When completed, the revised Capital Plan 2009 - 2013 must be submitted for my approval with the agreement of the Minister for Finance. Details of the individual projects being included in the Capital Plan will be made available when the plan is approved.