Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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366. To ask the Minister for Health the allocations for counties Laois and Offaly contained in the HSE Capital Plan 2022; if he will address concerns that there is a major disparity in the funding allocated to County Offaly in comparison to other midlands counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28560/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The 2022 Capital Plan reiterates the government's commitment to investing in our health and social care services. Health capital funding available for Building and Infrastructure in 2022 is €1.02 billion, an increase of 4% on 2021. This investment will enable the HSE to progress projects in 2022 at National and Regional level, including government priority programmes and major capital projects as well as investment in primary and community care settings.

The number of projects competing for inclusion in the capital plan each year invariably exceeds the funding available. It is therefore necessary to carry out a prioritisation exercise to ensure that optimum  value is achieved from the available capital budget while also progressing health policies and strategies.

Capital projects funded in Laois and Offaly in 2022 are set out in the Appendices of the plan and are set out in the attached document.

I and officials in my Department will be working closely with the HSE in the implementation of the plan and these important projects.