Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on claims from the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association that the numbers quoted by her of 13,255 acute public hospital beds includes outpatient and day-case beds and that the numbers of in-patient beds according to the Health Service Executive as of May 2006 is 12,158; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21314/06]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the planning which has been done in her Department to give effect to the commitment to deliver 3,000 additional acute hospital beds as outlined in the National Health Strategy, apart from those already provided; the progress which has been made in identifying the regions and specialties where further beds will be located; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21323/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of public in-patient beds that have been delivered since 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21217/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether there are enough public hospital beds in the health system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21264/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she intends to take to combat the excessively high bed occupancy rates in some hospitals that reach 100 per cent and over despite internationally agreed best practice of occupancy at 85 per cent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21319/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 36, 45, 61 and 68 together.

In 2001, the year of the publication of the Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds for HSE Network Hospitals was 11,375 in-patient beds and 770 day places. Provisional figures for 2005 indicate that the average number of beds available for use in HSE Network Hospitals was 12,042 in-patient beds and 1213 day places. This is an increase of 667 in publicly funded acute hospitals in-patient beds and an increase of 443 day places. It is important to note that the numbers of beds available in any hospital may fluctuate over time depending on service demands and other factors such as seasonal closures and refurbishment. A further 450 acute beds are at various stages of development under the HSE Capital programme.

In addition, I have launched an initiative which aims to provide 1,000 additional beds for public patients. This will be achieved through the development of private hospitals on the sites of public hospitals, transferring private activity to those hospitals and freeing up beds currently reserved for private patients. The HSE has recently advertised for expressions of interest for the development of private hospitals on the sites of 11 publicly funded hospitals.

In the light of the progress made to date and following discussions between the HSE and my Department, it has been decided to carry out a review of our acute hospital bed requirements up to the year 2020. A Steering Group has been established under the chairmanship of the National Director of the National Hospitals Office. The Group includes representatives of the HSE, my Department, the Department of Finance and the Economic and Social Research Institute.

It is envisaged that the Group will engage in consultation with key service providers and stakeholders within the Irish health care system in the course of its work. It is expected that the review will consider the number and type of acute beds required nationally and by HSE Administrative area. The high rate of bed occupancy in some hospitals will also be examined in the context of the review.