Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The bed capacity review is under way. Obviously it is not just about the number of beds, it is about the type of beds. There is a big difference between an ICU bed and a day-case bed, for example, or a paediatric bed. It is at an advanced stage and will be completed in advance of the capital review. It will be completed before the end of the year. We want to have it before the capital review because, obviously, it will inform what type of health care investments are included in the capital plan. There is already a commitment to build new emergency departments at Beaumont Hospital and University Hospital Galway, and they will proceed anyway. The bed capacity review is separate from this.

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