Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That is a great question. We are all trying to find extra capacity to deal with the immediate problems. We know we need to do better in terms of building more hospital capacity and more community capacity in the coming months and years. Basically, it is a call out to the system, and I echo that call again today. If a hospital manager or a hospital group manager believes that he or she can open capacity, that there is a space in the hospital, that staff can be recruited or that there is a smaller hospital or community down the road where capacity can be opened quickly, then I want to hear it. I am not interested in people promising to open capacity next July. If a manager believes that he or she can open up capacity quickly, then the NTPF is working with the HSE to provide the funding. From talking to the NTPF and the HSE, we estimate that the figure will be approximately 190 beds. A total of 107 have now been approved. Applications are still coming in. When the Deputy goes back to her constituency and to Bantry, she will see that the invitation is there for everyone to apply quickly. In fairness, Deputy Murphy O'Mahony is not only raising the issue at this stage - she raises it all the time. People have been asked to apply by the end of this week or certainly in the coming days.