Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The second part of the Deputy's question related to the 18 beds that were closed in Louth. Unfortunately, I do not have any information on that either. However, I will come back to the Deputy on it. I will make a commitment to the Deputy to revert to her on it because I do not have the relevant information in front of me now.

In the reply I have in front of me, it is made very clear that the €1.6 million was actually an overspend within the Louth area. That is now being rectified through the various hospitals. The Minister is committed to supporting those in Louth and Meath to make the changes as quickly as possible. There is nothing in what I said to suggest that nurses would not be recruited. There is a definite response to the effect that additional staff will be employed but that it will take time.

Unfortunately, I do not have the specific answers to the Deputy's questions. However, I have taken down in detail what she has said and I will speak to the Minister for Health about it and ask him to reply to her in person.

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