Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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364. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the proposed 100-bed unit at the St. Mary's Hospital site, Dublin Road, Drogheda, County Louth; the most recent specification brief on the project; if specific commencement dates have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41777/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021. The plan includes capital funding for the Community Nursing Unit programme and also sets out the current status of all projects within the programme, including the development at St. Mary's Hospital, Drogheda.

The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects and has advised that this phased development is currently at planning stage. A planning application was submitted to Louth County Council earlier this year. Further information was requested by the local authority and this has recently been submitted by the HSE.

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.