Vol. 544 No. 5
130 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if beds have been removed from wards in the Sacred Heart Home, Castlebar, County Mayo over the past number of weeks or months; and if these beds are now out of use. [29359/01]
As the Deputy is aware, the provision of health services in the Castlebar area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has made inquiries of the board in relation to bed numbers in the Sacred Heart Home and has been informed as follows. The bed capacity in St. Patrick's unit has been reduced from 48 to 24 due to serious structural problems, which are currently being investigated by the board's technical staff, from whom a report is awaited. From the total of 200 beds being provided in the home's other units, approximately 13 have been withdrawn from service, on a temporary basis, due to serious difficulties being experienced in the recruitment of nursing staff.
