Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health if meetings have been held in his Department regarding the new hospitals announced in the NDP and NPF; when the process will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11288/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Development Plan provides €10.9 billion to invest in infrastructure, equipment and additional service capacity for the public health sector. This represents an increase of 165% in capital funding over the previous decade.

It is important to recognise that this is a long-term plan which provides for a large number of Health developments across the country, including both national programmes and individual projects, across acute, primary and social care. We must ensure that we carefully plan the use of this capital funding so as to meet the population needs and achieve value for money. Health capital projects currently underway will continue including the new Children's Hospital, the new National Rehabilitation Hospital and the new National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital.

As is to be expected with a ten year plan, many proposals, including new elective-only hospitals in Dublin, Cork and Galway, are at an early stage and will require to progress through appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm location, timeline or funding required can be established.

These matters are the subject of ongoing meetings in my Department.