The Government has announced it is to invest some €5 billion in improving healthcare infrastructure as part of the new National Development Plan.
The funding will be used to build new facilities and upgrade existing ones, allowing the health services to make improvements to the acute hospital sector, and also in the primary, continuing and community care sectors.
According to the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, capital investment in Irish health facilities is now the highest in the OECD region.
" The most recent OECD data show that in 2004, we invested 0.6 per cent of GNP (0.5 percent of GDP) in medical facilities, the highest level alongside Norway .
Most other countries invest half that proportion of national income or less," said Ms Harney.
Some €2.4 billion will be invested in the acute hospital sector, which will cover the redevelopment of the Mater Hospital , the building of the new National Children's Hospital, and the construction of a regional hospital for the North-East.
New radiation oncology facilities are also due for development nationwide.
The new NDP also includes almost €10 billion investment in services for older people, divided over two sub-programmes that are designed to aid those who wish to be cared for at home and those who move into residential facilities.
"The Living at Home sub-programme amounts to €4.7 billion, while the Residential Care sub-programme amounts to €5 billion," Ms Harney said.
There are also plans to expand existing home care packages, home help, respite care and palliative care services.
Services for people with disabilities will get a €19.2 billion boost over the life of the NDP, with the majority of the funding going through the Heath Services Disabilities sub-programme.
Investment is planned for community-based residential and respite services, residential accommodation, day centres, resource facilities and child and adult psychiatric services.
