Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Health following the decision of An Bord Pleanála to reject an application for permission to build a primary care centre at the Mellows Road site in Finglas, Dublin 11, the total amount spent, to date, on the Finglas primary care centre; if he will confirm that the Finglas community remains a priority for the provision of such a service, and if he will commit to fund such a facility, as soon as a new site is identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8574/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Both Minister Varadkar and I are extremely disappointed by the decision of An Bord Pleanála not to grant planning permission for the Finglas primary care centre which was to be located at Mellowes Road and serve the local communities of Finglas south and west. Zoning was appropriate for the proposed development and use. The decision was unexpected since Dublin City Council (DCC) had issued a notification of its decision to grant planning permission. An Bord Pleanála's inspector also recommended a grant of planning permission, upholding the DCC decision. The single reason given for the refusal by An Bord Pleanála was the loss of informal open space. This decision will significantly delay the provision of a primary care centre for Finglas south and west. This project has been approved for funding and the HSE will review the situation to determine what can be done.

However, as with all capital programmes, the primary care infrastructure programme which includes this project, must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects, over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019, given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. Therefore the reason capital funding is not ring-fenced / committed by project is to ensure that the HSE has flexibility to manage within its voted capital allocation in the event that one or more of the hundreds of construction projects underway at any time do not progress as scheduled. Indenting rather than ring-fencing enables the HSE, to leverage its capital allocation efficiently, so that it delivers the maximum number of priority projects for the funding available. Nevertheless Finglas south and west remains a priority as it is one of the communities most in need of access to primary care services.

While the Mellowes Road site was purchased subject to planning, certain costs including professional fees will have been incurred. The HSE has been asked to respond to your query in relation to the total amount spent to date on this project. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.