Vol. 517 No. 4
126 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the overall increase in the number of step-down beds in the hospital service in 1999; the reasons for the small number of these beds in view of the need for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9911/00]
The figures requested by the Deputy are not routinely collected by my Department. However, my Department is in the process of verifying the number of step-down beds in all health board areas. The regional chief executive officer of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the chief executive officers of the health boards have been asked to compile the figures for their area and forward them to my Department. When these figures are collated they will be forwarded to the Deputy.
