John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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449. To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to respond to a proposal from a local Kilkenny-based sports group regarding the use of lands owned by the executive at Lacken on the Dublin Road in County Kilkenny; if the executive will support such a sports project at this location, given the benefits of such an amenity to the health and wellbeing of the people of the county; if, having considered the submission, the executive will support the initiative as a pilot project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39568/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The proposal referred to must be considered in the context of the capital funding available to Health and the Government's Reform Plan relating to the State's property asset use and management.

In this context, I must advise you that the Health Service Executive is required to obtain value for money when disposing of surplus property assets. These proceeds will be re-invested in delivering much needed health care infrastructure. As there will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer facilities which support the delivery of core health services must be prioritised within the context of the overall capital envelope available to us. Given the limited funding available and our health infrastructure needs priority for funding must be based on verified service needs and all capital funding must be directed to supporting these core services. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet health care needs now and in the future.

In addition consideration must be given to Government's Reform Plan which sets out commitments relating to property asset use and management. These commitments include ensuring that optimal value for money is achieved in the management of the State's property portfolio. The development and implementation of the Property Management Delivery Plan has been one of the outcomes of the reform process. This plan aims to improve the planning and management of the public service property portfolio by improving co-ordination of strategies and activities, processes for strategic planning, projects and property management, standards for accommodation fit-out and data capture, accountability for decision making and deployment of resources.

The HSE has been requested to respond to the proposal. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.