Health:Up to €5 billion will be spent on improving the State's healthcare infrastructure over the next seven years under the new National Development Plan.
However, at least some of this money will go on projects that have previously been announced several times, including the construction of the new national children's hospital, the provision of a proper network of radiotherapy services across the State and the setting up of a national network of primary-care teams.
Almost half the funding, a total of €2.4 billion, will be invested in acute hospitals.
The plan states that "a significant proportion of Irish health building stock must be upgraded for contemporary clinical and healthcare use".
It adds: "A well-designed healthcare environment can lead to faster recoveries, reduced suffering for patients and reduced risks of infection."
It says the fact that the population is growing and ageing will affect the type and quantity of healthcare facilities required.
But it says whether money is spent on more acute hospital beds will depend on the outcome of a review of bed capacity requirements up to 2020, which is currently being undertaken.
Much of the extra money for hospitals will be used to develop and expand minor injury units, chest pain clinics and respiratory clinics, acute medical assessment units and transit wards in A&E departments.
Additional long-term care and rehabilitation facilities will also be developed to address the problem of delayed discharges from hospitals, which in turn affects overcrowding in A&E.
Funding will also go towards improving kidney dialysis services, organ transplantation services and services for those with cystic fibrosis and diabetes.
In addition, money is earmarked for improving diagnostic equipment, modernising the ambulance fleet, the reconfiguration of acute hospital services around the country and the implementation of the Government's cancer control strategy.
Infection control will also be improved. "The prevalence and spread of healthcare-associated infections, including MRSA, presents a significant challenge to healthcare providers. Investment in new hospitals and the refurbishment of existing hospitals will take account of the need to guard against such infections," the plan states.
But the plan warns that even if new facilities are provided, staffing levels in the health sector will have to "comply fully with Government policy in relation to public-sector numbers".
Meanwhile, approximately €2.1 billion has been allocated to improving primary, community and continuing care services.
Funding was announced in the last two budgets for the setting up of 100 primary-care teams in both 2006 and 2007. The NDP notes that the Government now hopes to put another 100 in place in 2008, a further 100 in 2009 and another 100 by 2011.
But when the Government's primary-care strategy was published back in 2001 it promised 600 primary-care teams would be set up over a 10-year period. Few of them are yet in place, however.
The plan also contains details of proposals - which have been announced previously - to improve mental health services. These include the building of a new central mental hospital and improving mental health services with money recouped from the sale of old mental hospitals.
A sum of €490 million is being provided for better computer systems and communications technology. This may include electronic health records.