Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is certainly no problem. We are not just saying it works and is that not great; we are actually saying it works and let us do more in 2017. That is why we are providing additional funding this year to increase the staffing in the three existing early supported discharge stroke teams and to develop two new teams. As I have outlined to the Deputy, the cost of that is €460,051 in a full year. As is normal, in advance of the Estimates process the HSE is working with my Department to prepare costings if we were to roll out this programme nationally. In advance of the Estimates process formally beginning I would be very supportive of this because it makes sense from a bed utilisation point of view. We have had the benefit of the pilots. We are now putting the staff into those two additional teams. I expect to be able to share with the Deputy more concrete details on the costs of rolling it out nationally well in advance of the budget 2018 process. This is something my Department, the HSE and I all support. A body of work is being done to see how it can be rolled out nationally.

See this speech in context