John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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670. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 22 October 2015, if he will confirm that the planning application has been submitted; and if so, the proposed starting date of this project. [1283/16]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The new 100 bed en-suite replacement community nursing unit is a priority project. The following is the current position as regards the lodging of the planning application. This is a major development on a campus with listed / protected buildings. Therefore HSE has had extensive consultations with the planning authorities about the new facility and the treatment of the listed / protected buildings. The purpose of the consultation process is to ensure a successful planning application in so far as is possible. Following its most recent meeting with the relevant local authority mainly on conservation issues the HSE expects that the planning application can be lodged in Q1 2016. Subject to a smooth planning process and no onerous planning conditions construction could commence late this year. However in advance of receipt of the award of planning it is not possible to indicate with any certainty when construction could commence.

The HSE has recently submitted its draft Capital Plan for the multi-annual period 2016-2021. This is being reviewed. It requires my approval together with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. When approved the HSE will publish the schedule of projects on its website.