Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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224. To ask the Minister for Health the details of all priority capital projects that have had their funding reduced in the 2017 HSE capital plan; the amount of the reductions that have occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12307/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As a consequence of size, complexity, timing and scheduling, healthcare infrastructure projects develop at different paces and have different momentums. Therefore it would not be appropriate to ring-fence capital funding by project. Ensuring flexibility enables the HSE to manage within its voted capital allocation in the event that one or more of the hundreds of projects underway at any time do not progress as scheduled. It enables the HSE to leverage its capital allocation efficiently, so that it delivers the maximum number of projects including priority projects for the funding available.

In compliance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Spending Code, all health care infrastructure projects including priority capital projects are reviewed at a number of stages. All projects were reviewed by the HSE in the context of its submission of its draft Capital Plan, and have been further reviewed in the context of the 2017 Midterm Capital Review. Therefore the Department has deferred final consideration of the draft Plan in this context.