Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 163: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of public nursing home beds which are available in County Kildare; the locations of same; the number which are occupied; the extent of the waiting list; her plans to expand the number of beds available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20785/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, HSE, under the Health Act 2004. According to the HSE, there is a total of 381 public nursing home beds in County Kildare. There are 190 beds in St. Vincent's, Athy, 78 in Baltinglass District Hospital, 20 in Drogheda Memorial Hospital, seven in St. Brigid's Hospice, 38 in Maynooth community nursing unit and 48 in Peamount Hospital. All but ten of the 381 beds are occupied. Currently there are 131 people on the waiting lists for public extended-care beds in County Kildare. The Health Service Executive is planning to open a further seven beds in St. Vincent's Hospital and six in Maynooth in due course.