Written answers

Friday, 6 September 2019

Department of Health

Care of the Elderly Provision

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1159. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the cost overruns in respect of the senior care centres programme; if an assessment has been carried out of the likely impact of cost overruns on the senior care centres programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36038/19]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1162. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed 100-bed senior care centre on the grounds of Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; if cost overruns will have an impact on the proposed 100-bed senior care centre; if so, the impact in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36041/19]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1166. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of capital investment proposed in respect of each senior care centre by county in tabular form. [36045/19]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1159, 1162 and 1166 together.

Community Nursing Units (CNUs) are an essential part of our national healthcare infrastructure. However, many units are housed in buildings that are less than ideal in the modern context. The Government’s Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021 provided for investments totalling €535m to replace, upgrade and refurbish up to 90 public facilities across the country, which would bring them into compliance with new regulations from 2022.

The programme provides for a phased approach, with new builds and larger projects sequenced towards the end of the six-year period. Most of the funding comes from the Exchequer Capital Plan, with €150m to be sourced through Public Private Partnerships.

In considering the phasing of the projects over the 6 years, the HSE has had regard to the Capital funding available each year. The programme of works prioritises the completion of smaller projects in the earlier years of the Plan with larger projects, including those to be developed under the PPP model, to be commenced later.

Through normal ongoing engagements with the HSE it has recently advised that significant progress has been made and almost 30% of the projects have been completed to date. Construction is underway on a number of others, while the remainder are at various stages of appraisal, planning and/or design.

The HSE has indicated to the Department of Health two and a half years in advance of the December 2021 regulatory deadline that it expects over 80% of the projects will be complete or under construction by that time. While this represents substantial progress on the Programme, it is recognised that not all centres are likely to be completed within the originally planned timeframe.

The HSE has recently commenced an integrated package of work to examine each of the CNU projects as to their current status, next stages of development, timelines and costs.

The Department and the HSE are in early engagement which allows for the issues to be worked through to determine the best course of action and to discuss the extent of additional costs and any measures that could be adopted to mitigate challenges arising.

The HSE Capital Plan, published recently, provides for €220m capital funding to the CNU programme over the period 2019 to 2021 and also sets out the current status of all projects within the programme.

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to the status of individual projects.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1160. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious shortage of beds in the Dublin 15 area for older persons in need of both step-down care and nursing home care; his plans to provide adequate care for older persons in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36039/19]

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1161. To ask the Minister for Health the healthcare facilities at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown available to older persons that need nursing home care and in need of specialised step-down care; the number of beds including step-down care beds available to older persons in need of such care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36040/19]

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1163. To ask the Minister for Health if the senior care centre at Woodlands on the Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown campus has been closed; his plans for an alternative use of the Woodlands building and complex; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36042/19]

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1164. To ask the Minister for Health the number of step-down care beds and long-term residential care beds, respectively at St Mary’s Hospital in the Phoenix Park. [36043/19]

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1165. To ask the Minister for Health the senior care centres available to older persons in the Dublin 15 and Navan Road areas in tabular form; the name of each institution that provides either day care or long-term residential care and respite care; the location of each of these facilities; and the number of beds available in each facility. [36044/19]

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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