Additional funding of €3.5 million was allocated to the Eastern Regional Health Authority to facilitate the discharge of patients from the acute system to a more appropriate setting thereby freeing up acute beds. It allows for funding through the subvention system of additional beds in the private nursing home sector and ongoing support in the community. I have been informed by the ERHA that this funding will allow for the discharge of up to 200 patients in the eastern region.
The specific allocation of this funding to the various agencies in the eastern region is a matter for the ERHA. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to reply to the Deputy directly on this matter.