Written answers

Tuesday, 24 September 2019

Photo of Pat GallagherPat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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374. To ask the Minister for Health if the recently published HSE capital plan contains a commitment to secure the residential care units for St. Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar, by providing the necessary funding for upgrading the hospital; the specific section within the capital plan in which the actual reference is contained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38865/19]

Photo of Pat GallagherPat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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375. To ask the Minister for Health if the recently published HSE capital plan contains a commitment to secure the residential care units for Ramelton Community Hospital, County Donegal by providing the necessary funding for upgrading the hospital; the specific section within the capital plan in which the actual reference is contained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38866/19]

Photo of Pat GallagherPat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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376. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Lifford Community Hospital did not form part of the current HSE capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38867/19]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 376, inclusive, together.

The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining 250 projects to be progressed over the three-year period.

The Capital Plan provides for €220m capital funding to the Community Nursing Unit programme over the period 2019 to 2021 and also sets out in Appendix 3 the current status of all projects within the CNU programme, including St. Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar and Ramelton Community Hospital.

The CNU programme provides for the retention of services at both St. Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar and Ramelton Community Hospital with a requirement for refurbishment of both centres.

In the short term the HSE will undertake minor capital works in both units in order to deal with regulatory compliance and an agreed schedule of works is being finalised with HIQA.

The redevelopment of Lifford Community Hospital on the existing site is not deemed viable. The need for additional beds and the potential to develop a new facility on a greenfield site will be reviewed further post 2021. Thereafter it can be considered for inclusion in the Capital Plan.

It is important to recognise that all capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement, before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.

The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, which can impact on the timeline for delivery.

The HSE actively manages the capital programme in order to ensure it has flexibility to progress as many projects as possible within the available funding, particularly in the event of any project not progressing as anticipated.

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