Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not have information specifically relating to this question, of which I did not have notice. I can contact the Deputy in due course and clarify many of the issues he raises. I do not accept that it is the universal view that there are insufficient beds in the system. What is needed is the utilisation of those beds to best effect. We have seen a big increase in the number of day cases and the length of stay of people requiring surgery has been shortening. Utilisation of existing bed places and greater efficiency and effectiveness has seen an increase in workload in our hospital system.

A report by the ESRI, published today, projects a significant increase in the demand for health care in Ireland, based upon demographic factors. It points out that shifting appropriate treatments from an in-patient to a day-case basis and moving activity which is more appropriate to primary care out of acute hospitals are some of the reforms currently taking place and which must be advanced.

I can obtain specific information for the Deputy in the next few hours. With regard to the general issue of co-location, the whole purpose was to facilitate bringing beds which had been designated as private into the public system by co-locating a private bed complement on co-located sites.

The traditional means of public procurement is also slow. There have been complications with regard to the co-location initiative coming on stream because of the problem in the banking system. There is also the question of ensuring that we proceed with those for which planning permission has been granted and on the basis of finance being provided.

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