Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the 1,500 new hospital beds that he announced earlier in 2023; when he expects these to come onstream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48985/23]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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On the issue of additional capacity, could the Minister update the House on the additional beds provided by the Government over recent years and the plan to put in place 1,500 new hospital beds, which he had indicated earlier this year?

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I am aware that he is asking this question on behalf of Deputy Troy. I might use this opportunity to congratulate Deputy Troy and his wife on the birth of their baby last night. It is a joyous occasion indeed.

With regard to the beds, it is well recognised that there is a need to improve patient flow and ensure sufficient capacity for both scheduled and unscheduled care. Earlier this year, I asked the HSE to put a plan in place to accelerate the construction and delivery of an additional 1,500 hospital beds right across the country. This is on top of the more than 1,000 additional hospital beds that have been added, and this will be on top of the 162 more that are to be added next year on top of the beds that have been added this year.

The HSE has been identifying, through the existing hospitals, the hospitals under pressure and which we all know need more beds, and also those that are in a good state to rapidly deliver the beds. This approach is supported by a demand-and-capacity analysis. I have asked the HSE and the Department to provide me with the additional bed requirement to achieve the 85% capacity rate we are all signed up to.

To reduce the time taken and the cost, it is proposed that the projects would be delivered using rapid build or standardised, repeatable design solutions, with standard schedules of accommodation, using off-site manufacturing techniques and an accelerated project delivery process. It is expected that this approach will result in a bed cost half the cost of a traditional build bed.

An expression of interest was published in March 2023. There was much interest in it in Ireland and elsewhere around the world. I will update the Deputy further in my next contribution.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for stealing my punchline because I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Troy. I welcome the arrival of Maria Ginnell Troy, his daughter. It is an example of how, in very important times, we need hospital capacity.

I welcome the additional beds that the Government has brought on board and the significant funding. In the talk of cuts over recent weeks, I have heard no acknowledgement that funding has increased by nearly 40% over the lifetime of the Government. It is important that we press ahead, however. During the Covid pandemic, several planning derogations assisted with the delivery of hospitals, particularly at St. Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny. We need to get to the bottom of the cost per bed and what is actually required. I welcome the comments.

Is there any more information on the rapid-build process and how it might add capacity? Does the Minister have any detailed figures yet on what the cost per bed might be?

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I thank both Deputies. Deputy McAuliffe should note that we had 18 responses from Ireland and abroad to the expression of interest in 2023, all with a view to rapid build. All concerned bring different versions of the technology. In parallel, we have also commenced the detailed design work. The HSE has recently published a standardised questionnaire with a view to procuring the design services to do this. I am engaging with ministerial colleagues on future funding.

On Deputy Wynne’s question, to the very best of my knowledge, the 96-bed block is on track. I gather it has been very well received in Limerick. I was there not long ago. We have started the construction of the enabling works and foundations for a second 96-bed block. I can get the Deputy a report on the exact level of progress.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The use of rapid build is increasingly important in both housing and the delivery of infrastructure but it can pose a challenge at constrained sites. In my constituency, Beaumont Hospital is an increasingly constrained site, although it once had a lot of land around it. The Mater hospital, which is nearby, is beyond maximum capacity. The big challenge will concern how rapid build can be achieved at congested sites or in brownfield areas, where more turnkey or bespoke design is often required.

I thank the Minister for the answers he has given. It is important that we press on and continue to add capacity, as we have done over recent years.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Mater hospital is a good example of how this can be done. The Deputy is absolutely correct that it is a congested site but we opened the Rock wing there recently. It is a state-of-the-art facility. Some rapid-build technology was used and the process was very efficient. Those responsible probably got the wing built several years quicker than a similar project might have been built in the past. They deserve great credit for it.

At the right-hand side of the Rock wing, a very big build is intended for the regional trauma centre. On the left-hand side, a significant investment is sought for another bed block. The new bed block proposed for the left-hand side is the kind of development that would lend itself to the rapid-build approach.