Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will approve the construction of the planned new hospital at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18662/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The proposal by the National Rehabilitation Hospital to build a new and extended facility needs to be considered within the context of a national policy for the delivery of neuro-rehabilitation services. My Department and the Health Service Executive established a Working Group to develop a policy / strategy for the provision of neuro-rehabilitation services. Its terms of reference include the development of an appropriate policy framework for neuro-rehabilitation and a preferred model of care for the provision of neuro-rehabilitation services. It is expected that the Report of the Working Group will be finalised in Summer 2010.

In the current economic situation, there is a need to ensure that all developments are planned and implemented to give best value for money and with the most appropriate mix of national, regional and local services. Any proposal to further develop neuro-rehabilitation services must also be considered in the context of the current economic climate, available revenue and capital funding and competing priorities for limited funding.