Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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This matter relates to whether the number of beds and facilities at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, can be extended and expanded. I recently received a query from the family of a constituent, which brought home the fact a person's life can be changed in a few minutes. The gentleman in question was working on a gas mains and had excavated a large hole in the road around which were bollards. An elderly lady lost control of her car and landed on top of him. He is now seriously ill in hospital and his family are keen to have him moved to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. When I made a representation on their behalf, I was horrified to discover there is a three to six month waiting list for the hospital. This man has two young children and the situation is extremely traumatic for them.

Previously, a constituent of mine in his mid-forties had a bad stroke. We went through the same procedure trying to get him into the rehabilitation hospital. Without casting aspersions on the hospitals these men were already in, their families were keen to have them moved to the rehabilitation hospital as it has an excellent record in dealing with patients with their needs. The Minister should take this opportunity to outline the Government's plans, if any, to expand the service which must be crying out for extra resources. I look forward to the Minister's reply.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am pleased to take this opportunity to clarify the matter relating to the provision of beds at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH, Dún Laoghaire.

The provision of health-related services for people with disabilities, physical, sensory or intellectual, and for those with autism is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards.

The Sisters of Mercy founded the National Rehabilitation Hospital in conjunction with the National Organisation for Rehabilitation in 1961. This specialised hospital has a capacity of 123 beds and serves people from all over the country. It provides treatment and rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injuries, head injuries, amputation, traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury, strokes, neurological disorders, children's disabilities and spina bifida. It also provides wheelchair and mobility aids assessment. Since 1986 the hospital has run pre-vocational and vocational training programmes involving a wide range of social, personal and work-related skills with a view to enhancing opportunities for each individual for further training, employment and educational options.

The NRH has been undergoing development in the past number of years. In January 2004, the new Corofin millennium lodge and rehabilitative training unit was built with the help of funding from the millennium fund and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The 12-bed unit provides an invaluable resource to people with acquired brain and spinal cord injuries and to their families and carers. It enables clients from outside the greater Dublin area to access services in the hospital and in the rehabilitative training unit.

The NRH also submitted proposals regarding the redevelopment of the hospital. The redevelopment relates to a 235-bed hospital on its site in Dún Laoghaire and the Government is committed to capital investment in this project under the capital investment framework 2004 to 2008. This redevelopment is at early planning stages.

One of the most positive features of disability services here in Ireland is the strong partnership which now exists between all involved in the planning and delivery of services. This partnership includes the Government, health boards, voluntary agencies, families and friends and of course persons with disabilities themselves. I am pleased that both this and the previous Government have been in a position to make a significant investment in these services in recent years.

Since 1997, additional funding amounting to €643 million has been invested in health funded support services for people with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities and those with autism. A total of €400 million of this was allocated to services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism. Services to people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities and those with autism is one of the limited number of areas in which additional funding has been provided by the Government in any Department over 2003 and 2004. The health funded services in this sector have advanced greatly over the past number of years but further work is required. To that end, I am pleased the Government was in a position to announce in the budget a special disability multi-annual funding package with a total value of close to €900 million over the years 2006 to 2009. This funding is being dedicated until 2009 to ensure delivery of these high priority disability services. The package includes guaranteed additional current spending of almost €600 million. The Government has also agreed to allocate €300 million out of the revised capital envelope to these high-priority disability services.

The bulk of the new funding package will go to the health sector where it will be invested in services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism, services for persons with physical or sensory disabilities and mental health services. It will focus, in particular, on the provision of extra residential, respite and day places, extra home support and personal assistance and extra places in community based mental health facilities. Funding of residential places for people with significant disabilities and the provision of extra home support and personal assistant services will assist in the speediest discharge of NRH patients and alleviate pressure.

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am shocked to learn the hospital only has a 123 bed capacity, a small amount of beds given the hospital serves the whole country. We are catering for an ageing population who, unfortunately, often suffer strokes before dying from a heart attack.

I get the impression from the Minister of State's reply that patients currently taking up beds at the hospital should not be doing so. The horrible term "bed blockers" comes to mind.

John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)
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The Senator cannot debate the matter now.

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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I am aware of that. The Minister of State is speaking in terms of the larger picture and the provision of 235 beds when he speaks of a quicker turnover of patients and better support for them. However, there is currently no scope for a quicker transfer rate of patients at the hospital. Is it a question of extra beds or is there a bigger picture in terms of matching services? With how many additional beds can the current complement of staff cope?

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am not responsible for the impressions which Senator Browne gets from my reply. The services provided by the staff at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire have been acknowledged nationally and internationally. As I stated in my reply, the Government plans to provide a much bigger hospital at that location. There have been many advances in technology in terms of new treatments of illnesses. Patients are often happier to be taken care of in their home environment. There is no suggestion of such people being considered bed blockers. The consensus of opinion, as technology and new methods of treatment advance, is that it would be better to treat many people in their home environment or in a place near to home. Clearly that would not be possible with all patients.

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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How many additional beds can the current complement of staff cope with? Are they operating at maximum capacity now?

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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Yes, they are.

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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So, if extra beds are provided further staff would be needed.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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Yes.