Investment will support “transformation” of health service claims Varadkar

However the details of the four national hospital projects announced today had previously been confirmed.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Primary and Social Care Kathleen Lynch announced that €3 billion will be invested over six years in the health capital programme.

“This plan provides funding for a major programme of investment which will support the transformation of health care facilities,” said Minister Varadkar.

“Over the period 2016-2021 a capital allocation of €3.061 billion is being provided. This includes additional funding of €568m. The welcome extension of the capital planning horizon to 2021, and the increased funding available in the later years provides scope for the commitment of additional investment concentrated towards the end of the period.”

The plan breaks down into four national hospital projects, with work expected to start next year: The new children’s hospital at St James’s Hospital campus and the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to St Vincent’s as the first part of a wider programme to provide new maternity hospital facilities.

Also detailed was the construction of the National Forensic Mental Health Services Campus in Portrane and the development of the new National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire. There are also five more nationwide projects included in the plan.

However the four national hospital projects were confirmed some time ago and the NRH already had allocated funding announced.