Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Accommodation.

Derek McDowell

Ceist:

59 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide details of the number of public beds, the number of contract beds and the number of people in receipt of subvention in relation to nursing home bed provision in each health board; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of this provision. [10261/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

The number of public beds available at 31 December 1996 is as follows:

Category of Unit	Number of Beds
HB Geriatric Home-Hospital	6,126
HB Welfare Home	1,056
HB District-Community Hospital	2,391
Total	9,573

The number of contract beds in nursing homes and the numbers in receipt of nursing home subvention in each health board area are as follows:

Health Board	Number of Contract Beds	Number in receipt of Subvention at 31-12-97
Eastern	270	2,586
Midland	Nil	207
Mid-Western	Nil	860
North-Eastern	Nil	330
North-Western	152	460
Southern	5	600
South-Eastern	Nil	483
Western	13	716
Total	440	6,242

The Department's capital programme for older people includes provision for more extended care beds located in health board community nursing units. Additional resources have also been provided to increase the number of beds contracted by health boards from the private nursing home sector.