Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the debate on this matter has familiar tones for the Deputy as a former Minister for Health and for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is not simply a case of throwing money at the issue. We need to make sure that the additional resources that we provide are used appropriately. In budget 2019, we provided a fund of €10 million for spending in the latter end of this year to facilitate appropriate discharge through an appropriate care setting of people who are in an acute hospital bed but who are deemed no longer to be in need of that level of care. We are taking steps to improve capacity in the health service. That is not to say that we are not responding accordingly. We are providing additional resources. The Deputy alluded to the resources provided for in 2019 being significantly increased from 2018. We also made provision in the budget for dealing with the issue of appropriate discharge, which itself frees up acute hospital beds for people who are awaiting admission.

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