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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

HSE capital plan and NDP

Summary

Deputy Farrelly asked whether HSE capital spending and the national development plan had been traded away in programme for Government talks. The Minister said health capital decisions are taken carefully by the HSE and based on need, including in Tipperary.

In the spirit of showing each other documents across the floor like the Minister did a couple of minutes ago, I present a news article from January where Michael Lowry is quoted as saying, "The Group’s contribution to the review of the National Development Plan and our input to the HSE Capital Plan, will be central to our ongoing work within Government." Can the Minister reassure people that we have not allowed the HSE capital plan and national development plan to be auctioned off as part of any programme for Government conversations? We have heard this week that there is no deal. Will the Minister reassure people that we will take an evidence-based and transparent approach to the allocation of incredibly important funds, whether in the HSE or the national development plan?

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I think there is a world of difference between me producing a document that Deputy Farrelly's party published and a report in a newspaper. I produced a document that the Social Democrats published about economic policy and the role of jobs in our economy. Any engagement on the future of health spending and the allocation of the capital budget is taken very seriously by the HSE. It aims to respond to health needs. There are health needs in Tipperary. Government TDs will be raising those just as they are in other parts of the country, but these decisions are always made in a careful way to try to make sure the country's money is used in the right way.

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