I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 178 together.
My Department carried out a detailed study of acute hospital bed requirements up to 2011, and published Acute Hospitals Bed Capacity — a National Review in January 2002. The study examined current bed capacity and activity in acute hospitals and developed a framework for estimating future acute hospital capacity requirements. The study took account of current service pressures, projected increases in total population, the rise in the number of older people, increasing demand for services and potential changes in clinical practice. The study highlighted the need to expand hospital services for public patients.
In the health strategy, the Government committed itself to improve access for public patients. That is to be achieved through a series of measures, for example, funding has been provided to open an additional 900 in-patient beds and day places in acute hospitals throughout the country — 720 are in place, and the remainder will come on stream before the end of 2005. My Department is exploring the scope that exists for the private sector to provide additional bed capacity, and the national treatment purchase fund has been established to source treatment in the private sector for public patients waiting longest for treatment. The fund had arranged treatment for 27,000 public patients up to the end of March 2005.
Following the establishment of the Health Service Executive, responsibility for the preparation of plans regarding new acute hospital facilities, including the provision of additional capacity, now rests with the National Hospitals Office.