Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have been looking at the ratios. The OECD average is 12 beds per 100,000. When neonatal units, paediatric beds and level 1 beds are included, we get to approximately 11 beds per 100,000. It actually goes way up. For whatever reason, however, we do not count all of them in our OECD submission. We are going on the baseline, that is, the 2018 baseline set out in the report which examined what was needed in Ireland, and we are exceeding it.

As to the Deputy’s point on highly skilled staff, I could not agree more. In fact, in opening the beds we have opened during the lifetime of this Government, we have recruited nearly 800 extra staff into critical care alone. These are incredible staff who are highly trained and who deal with very complex health situations which are, sometimes, very emotionally and personally difficult. They really are extraordinary staff and I take my hat off to them. I meet them around the country. They are incredible healthcare professionals. I fully agree with the Deputy. We have hired nearly 800 so far. The plan is to keep going in order that we can open more of these ICU beds.

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