The North Eastern Health Board is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, after it emerged that no capital development projects would start this year as the Department of Health had not yet made its annual allocation to the board.
The board's chief executive officer, Mr Paul Robinson, agreed with members that it was unlikely that any of the proposed developments on the five hospitals in the region would begin before the end of the year.
He said he was concerned as the NEHB had had proposals for the appointment of architects for all five sites with the Department since January.
Mr Robinson said the £45 million for Mullingar hospital and money for an MRI scanner in Waterford were concerning him as the board had not yet got the go-ahead for architects.
Under the NEHB's proposals there would be developments in operating theatres and A&E departments.
The total cost is £259 million this year with work completed by 2006.