Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Derek McDowell

Question:

258 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has arranged for the use of private beds in St. Joseph's Hospital, Raheny, Dublin 5; and his views on whether the purchase of such beds or the use of such beds would be appropriate under the initiative taken by him in 2000. [7613/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

As part of this Government's continuing commitment to increasing hospital bed capacity, I was pleased to provide funding to the Eastern Regional Health Authority for the purchase of St. Joseph's Hospital, Raheny.

On foot of the Government's decision to increase public hospital bed capacity by 709 beds over the next 12 months additional funding is being provided to the Eastern Regional Health Authority to facilitate the commissioning of 335 additional acute hospital beds, including 70 beds at St. Joseph's Hospital. The authority is currently in the process of commissioning these beds.