Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
24 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on his commitment to provide an additional 709 acute hospital beds to public patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10846/04]
View answer49 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of new hospital beds provided to date in 2004 and the projected number that will be provided before the end of 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10797/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 49 together.
Under the first phase of the acute bed capacity initiative I have provided €118 million for an additional 709 beds 584 of which have been commissioned in the first phase. Funding has been made available to health boards and authorities to commission the balance of the 709 beds this year. Under the acute bed capacity initiative, I have also provided an additional €8.8 million to the Eastern Regional Health Authority and €3.8 million to the Southern Health Board 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.
