Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This Government recognises the important role that community centres play in community life in Ireland, particularly in bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.

With this in mind, I have put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.

The response to last year’s Fund was phenomenal. Over €45.8 million was allocated to refurbish over 860 community centres across the country making them safer, more accessible and more enjoyable places for families and communities.

My aim under the 2023 round of funding is to support communities with shovel-ready plans to build new community centres. I was delighted to announce a €20 million fund to support this initiative.

Following the July 3rd deadline for applications, I can confirm that 22 applications have been submitted in relation to The Community Centre Investment Fund 2023 (New Build). These applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in quarter one of 2024.

I am committed to ensuring that there is clear support in place for community centres across the range of schemes referenced above, and decisions in relation to any further iterations of the Community Centre Investment Fund will be taken in the context of the upcoming annual budgetary process.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This Government recognises the important role that community centres play in community life in Ireland, particularly in bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.

With this in mind, I have put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.

The response to last year’s Fund was phenomenal. Over €45.8 million was allocated to refurbish over 860 community centres across the country making them safer, more accessible and more enjoyable places for families and communities.

My aim under the 2023 round of funding is to support communities with shovel-ready plans to build new community centres. I was delighted to announce a €20 million fund to support this initiative.

Following the July 3rd deadline for applications, I can confirm that 22 applications have been submitted in relation to The Community Centre Investment Fund 2023 (New Build). These applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in quarter one of 2024.

I am committed to ensuring that there is clear support in place for community centres across the range of schemes referenced above, and decisions in relation to any further iterations of the Community Centre Investment Fund will be taken in the context of the upcoming annual budgetary process.