Gov must confirm what health projects they have paused

Issued : Tuesday 12 February, 2019

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has urged the Ministers for Health and Public Expenditure to outline exactly what Health projects are going to be delayed because of the overrun in the National Children’s Hospital. 

Deputy Kelly said: 

“Paschal Donohoe today announced that €99 million will be taken out of funds already allocated to several different departments, including €24 million from an already stretched Department of Health budget. We haven’t been told in detail what Health capital projects will now be left on the long finger for an indefinite period of time.

“The Government has been sending mixed messages on many long awaited capital projects such as sixty additional beds in University Hospital Limerick. This hospital is consistently the most over-crowded in the State and it is time for Fine Gael to explain whether this project will actually go ahead. 

“Paschal Donohoe has many questions to answer when it comes to why we are now in the position where projects will be put on the long finger. Minister Donohoe has completely damaged his own reputation as being responsible when it comes to taxpayer’s money by keeping his eye off the ball on this project. 

“I’ll be pressing for both Minister Harris and Minister Donohoe to provide a list of what capital projects are being put on the back burner tomorrow in the Dáil.”