Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, I stated that four of the 52 acute hospitals were having difficulties this week and I acknowledged the work the staff have been doing with the substantial additional resources, beds and facilities they have been given to make an enormous improvement on the waiting list this winter. They have brought down the length of stay in accident and emergency departments by over 50%. I also acknowledged that Beaumont Hospital and three of the other 52 acute hospitals are having difficulties at present and I stated that the senior people in the HSE, who have been working on the winter initiative and the accident and emergency departments generally, have been working with them. I appreciate that fact.

After Leas Cross and some of the other difficulties in north Dublin, a number of points were raised by the HSE where they required additional facilities. St. Joseph's, Raheny, is in use. As Deputy Kenny would have found out, approximately a year ago I visited the wards they opened at that time and it is in operation. They have introduced a number of other facilities.

There is a difficulty in four or five areas, mainly but not only in north Dublin. The bed numbers are down. Several times in the year they have patients who, in the normal course, could go home but it is just not possible for them to do so given their circumstances. Generally, such patients are elderly people who would be on their own. That is a risk that cannot be taken and, therefore, they need step-down facilities.

The HSE, in Dublin and around the country, does all it can to provide step-down beds, in both nursing homes——

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