Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

The Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Southern Health Board areas are particularly affected because of a lack of public long-term care beds. This was acknowledged when the Department was preparing the health strategy. There is a commitment in the strategy to provide 1,370 additional beds, plus 600 additional day hospital beds. In addition, the strategy proposed the provision of an extra 800 extended care community nursing unit places per year over a seven year period which will include the provision of long-term care beds for people with dementia.

Public private partnerships, PPPs, are being piloted in the health sector. These are based on the concept that better value for money for the Exchequer may be achieved through them. Business advisers appointed by the ERHA and the SHB are in the process of finalising draft public sector benchmarks for these projects. The Department of Health and Children will examine the draft benchmarks when received with a view to submitting them to the Department of Finance for approval to proceed with the PPP projects.

Under the national development plan, capital funding of over €253 million is being made available for the provision of services for older people in the period 2000 to 2006. On a national basis this will enable a comprehensive infrastructure of community nursing units and day care facilities to be put in place as well as the refurbishment of existing extended care facilities and the replacement of older unsuitable accommodation.

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