Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE Capital Plan for 2022 includes developments in Ballina District Hospital and Belmullet Community Hospital. [7826/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this question and to acknowledge the tremendous work of staff in the provision of services in these hospitals over the years.

The HSE Capital Plan 2022 is based on funding of €1.02bn, an increase of 4% on 2021. The plan provides for progression of projects across sector and across the country.

In developing the Plan, the number of projects competing for inclusion invariably exceeds the funding available. It is therefore necessary to carry out a robust appraisal and then prioritisation exercise to ensure that best value is achieved from the available capital budget. This is in line with the Public Spending Code requirements.

In the conduct of initial appraisal of proposed projects, submissions must be considered by the HSE’s National Capital & Property Steering Committee. If a project submission is approved by this Committee, it can then be included for consideration for inclusion in the Capital Plan.

Regarding these projects, submissions have been made and are being considered by the National Capital & Property Steering Committee. A site inspection and meeting was to be organised, however due to COVID -19 this was not possible. An on-site meeting has been arranged between the Services, Estates and local Community Healthcare Organisation to review these projects on the 16^thFebruary 2022.