Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Donnelly. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, confirmed to me today that at no point did it refute the capacity review figures and it was represented on the steering group of the review. It has confirmed also that it is very clear that the projections on the two exercises were not comparable. The Deputy is not suggesting they are as the ESRI one did not factor in the model of care or productivity improvements.

The national development plan, the capital plan, is for the next ten years which brings us to 2028. The bed capacity review runs to 2031. We have fully funded the 2,500 three years ahead of schedule. There are three years at the end where it will be possible to do more. I am happy to always keep this under review. If we deliver this additional capacity it will be the largest increase in bed capacity in a hell of a long time, if not ever, in the Irish health service.

The Deputy made a point about costing the reform, if we are serious about making this shift to primary care and moving more services into the community. I will be putting costs on that as part of the Sláintecare implementation plan which I expect to bring to Government in the next few weeks.

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