Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress on the provision of extra beds as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33765/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Programme for Government refers to the commitment given in the Health Strategy to provide an additional 3,000 acute hospital beds by 2011.

In 2001, the year of the publication of the Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available for treatment of patients in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145. At the end of 2005, this figure had increased by 1,204 to a total of 13,349, involving an additional 724 in-patient beds and 480 day places.

In addition, a further 450 acute beds/day places are in various stages of planning and development under the Health Service Executive's Capital Plans.

The HSE is currently engaged in a procurement process with the private sector to build and operate private hospitals on 10 public hospital sites. This will enable up to 1,000 beds in public hospitals, which are currently used by private patients, to be re-designated for use by public patients.

All of these additional in-patient beds/day places will mean that this Government's commitment in the Health Strategy to increase total acute hospital capacity is well on the way to completion.