David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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3129. To ask the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that €9.2 billion in capital funding will be sufficient to deliver the new maternity hospital, four elective hospitals, 3,000 hospital beds, and extensive digitalisation in addition to maintenance and minor projects; the basis on which €9.2 billion was chosen for health; the division of that €9.2 billion across programmes; how she intends to ensure equitable regional distribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43355/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The overarching focus of the National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025 is the provision of a National Plan which creates the building blocks needed to deliver critical and transformational investment in infrastructure across the country and regions for the years ahead.

The Plan is the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State.

As committed to in the Programme for Government and the National Development (NDP) Review, the Government is prioritising critical economic growth enabling and international competitiveness boosting sectors – water, energy, transport, housing and health digitalisation.

In addition to these critical areas, Government is also providing significant increased funding to other areas including Health.

The enhanced NDP provision for the health sector for 2026 – 2030 is €9.25 billion. Building on a strong track record of infrastructure delivery and significant increases in capital expenditure in recent years, this will further support the delivery of equitable, accessible and high-quality healthcare across Ireland.

This increased investment for 2026 to 2030 will help manage medium term demographic challenges, be an enabler to provision of a modern and productive health service and will underpin the progression of key strategic reform priorities set out in Sláintecare and sectoral policies and strategies.

The new NDP funding envelope will support the progression of key health sector priorities across the sector and the country including:

• Health digitalisation as a foundational pillar for reform and transformation of the health service. Programmes that will be progressed include the introduction of a National Shared Care Record and continuing to work towards digitalisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems.
• Progressing the construction of the new National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park.
• The surgical hub programme.
• Progressing detailed design and statutory planning for the new elective hospitals programme.
• Construction of acute projects across the country including progressing and delivery of acute bed capacity projects, trauma services and diagnostic facility projects.
• The radiation oncology programme.
• Continued investment in the HIQA community nursing units programme to refurbish existing units for older persons long term residential care to meet HIQA requirements at locations across the country.
• Commencing the programme for additional public capacity for older persons long-term residential care nationally in line with identified capacity requirements.
• Continued investment in community care programmes through the country including the Primary Care Programme and Enhanced Community Care Programme.
• Progressing the programme of multi annual mental health services capital investments including the key priority mental health sites, perinatal care and other community infrastructure.
• Continued investment in the ambulances, ambulance bases, equipment replacement and projects addressing infrastructural risk across the country.
• Investment in Climate and sustainability projects.