The Deputy should note there are ongoing discussions around the National Development Plan (NDP) review between three departments including my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform given the significant capital costs involved in expansion. There are a range of potential projects which have been identified and can be pursued in Dentistry among other areas, including the delivery of the new dental school and hospital in UCC, which will support delivery of national objectives including Sláintecare. There are projects which would be possible to deliver at pace over the short-term period, as well as a number of other projects which could be delivered over the medium term.
At the conclusion of the NDP review, once updated department ceilings have been confirmed, successful applicants would be identified by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) based on assessment of objective criteria.
The funding and delivery of potential public capital projects is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the Public Spending Code (PSC), which was updated in 2019. The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood.
These are defined processes which all Departments and agencies are subject to and must follow to ensure that Government, as the approving authority for all major projects, can be satisfied that the project is the best means to achieve a policy goal and that we achieve maximum value for money for the taxpayer. The specific requirements that must be included in a business case at the various stages of the PSC are detailed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/public-spending-code/.
The Cork Dental School and Hospital has two distinct remits: the Dental School for undergraduate and postgraduate education of future dental professionals and the hospital or service element which provides dental care both privately as well as under a HSE service level agreement.
The Dental School is under the direct remit of the HEA via University College Cork as the employment and governing body and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science leads on and funds education-related activities.
Regarding the hospital function, the HSE is responsible for the planning and delivery of health services and management of healthcare infrastructure. Each year the HSE must develop a National Service Plan and Capital Plan upon receipt of notification from Department of Health of annual allocations set in the budget and priorities set out in the Letter of Determination. These plans must then be submitted for review and approval by the Minister for Health. Health capital investment decisions are informed by Programme for Government priorities, sectoral policies, strategies and reform initiatives as set out in Sláintecare.
Therefore, the Cork Dental School and Hospital must engage with the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the HSE, in the context of the requirements of the Public Spending Code, to explore the possible contribution of public funding to a new dental hospital building.
Work is ongoing through the appropriate processes to explore options to support the Cork University Dental School and Hospital to continue to deliver on its remit regarding both education and healthcare service provision.
