Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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296. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed phase 2 development at our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth which will include 90 extra beds, five theatres and an extended emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital; if all construction and fitting out costs have been included in the budget for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46743/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Most construction projects including those of the scale of the phased development at OLOL Drogheda are completed over a multi-annual period with funding required over a similar period.

The proposal envisages, a phased delivery over a period, of a five storey block with an initial fit out of 60 beds on two floors. The remaining three floors have been designed to accommodate an expanded ED on the ground floor, a possible additional 30 beds on the third floor and five theatres and ancillary services on the fourth floor.

As with all capital projects this project must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more construction projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. The method and timescale for the delivery of health care infrastructure is a dynamic process which is constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances, including the feasibility of implementation. There is limited funding available for new projects over the period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet needs now and in the future.

The HSE has submitted its draft Capital Plan for the period 2015-2019 which I have approved. It also requires the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform which will be sought shortly. Although the Plan is multi-annual it requires annual approval and consent.