This article is from page 82 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 82 JPG
THE Government has begun work in the 2009 budget even before a firm commitment has been given to capi- tal health programmes for this year.
And among the projects still not signed off for 2008 is the €39 mil- lion for the development of Ennis (lor) elejopleve
Last May, Health Minister Mary Harney promised a Clare deputa-
tion including Oireachtas members and mayors that the Capital Works Programme for 2008 would be pub- lished within weeks and despite ear- lier reports to the contrary, she was confident the long drawn out Ennis Project would be included.
Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said essen- tial investments in healthcare in the mid-west must not be the first casu- alty of the economic downturn.
“The Department of Health have
yet to publish their capital works programme for 2008, despite the fact that we are now almost three quar- ters of the way through the year.
At the end of May, Minister Harney promised funds for the redevelop- ment of Ennis General Hospital as part of the HSE Capital Development Programme 2008.
Since then there has been little mention of the promised €39 mil- lion, which is essential for the rede-
velopment of the hospital. There is the real chance now that the funding will be deferred until the 2009 Cap1- 0m OKO sear: DOD ES LoMMNN OORT: BIG
“T would have huge concerns that funding of essential health services in Clare will not be delivered. This Government has procrastinated on this issue since before the 2002 Gen- eral Election. The continued fail- ure to deliver much-needed funds for Ennis General Hospital makes
a mockery of government commit- ments. How can we believe anything this Government tells us?” asked the elo) vi ate
“The fact is that the Government did not prioritise the redevelopment of Ennis General Hospital up to this point, and they could easily have done so in times of plenty. So it does not bode well in times of economic tightening, that funding is still not forthcoming.”