Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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942. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the development of a new primary care centre in Monaghan town; if it cannot be built in front of Monaghan hospital, as originally planned, if the €9 million ring-fenced for this project in 2013 will be spent in County Monaghan; if these funds can be invested in Monaghan hospital if plans for a primary centre cannot go ahead at this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35785/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation. While the Government's objective is to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care service the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care centres is dependent on a number of factors. Some of these factors are outside the control of the Health Service Executive. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered / provided / available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff.

The HSE proposes to develop a new primary care centre on the St. Davnet's Campus in Monaghan town. A design team has been appointed and is currently compiling a Feasibility Study.

Future investment in healthcare infrastructure, including this project, must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs, having regard to the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. As there will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer, capital funding is not ring-fenced by project in order to ensure that the HSE has flexibility within its capital allocation in the event that one or more of the hundreds of construction projects underway at any time do not progress as scheduled. This enables the HSE to leverage its capital allocation efficiently, so that it delivers the maximum number of priority projects for the funding available.