Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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775. To ask the Minister for Health the capital projects that will commence at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9, in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38005/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE is concentrating on applying the funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs. Any future investment at Beaumont must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, and also within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. It must also be considered in the context of the establishment of hospital groups. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise its services to provide optimal care to the populations it serves.

As part of its 2015 - 2016 winter capacity planning, Beaumont is extending the Day Hospital at St. Joseph's, Raheny from a 2 day to a 5 day service. The Day Hospital provides a multi-disciplinary team for frail older people, thus providing an alternative care pathway for these patients, helping them to avoid ED admission. Rehabilitation and transitional care services are also provided in St. Joseph's, which facilitates earlier discharge from Beaumont and assists in avoiding re-admissions.

Following the announcement last month of the health capital envelope of €3,061 million for the multi-annual period 2016-2021, the HSE has undertaken preliminary work on the Capital Plan. This Plan, which requires my approval together with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, will include a schedule of projects to be delivered. This recently announced capital envelope has increased funding available in the later years of the period and therefore potential scope for additional investment concentrated towards the end of the period.