Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way she plans to address the shortage of long stay rehabilitation beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17740/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy may wish to know that while the main emphasis will continue to be on providing supports that help older people to remain in their own home for as long as possible, additional long-stay residential places will be required in the coming years to meet the needs of an ageing population. Last year, the HSE, in conjunction with Prospectus, undertook a Needs Assessment of bed capacity requirements in the areas of long-stay, dementia specific and respite care beds. This report was submitted to the Department of Health and Children in September 2006. While the report indicates a small national surplus of long-stay beds, it also notes that this surplus masks the uneven distribution of beds between and within regions. In particular, HSE Dublin North east and HSE South have an immediate requirement for additional beds. This shortage is being addressed by the measures outlined below.

In 2006, the HSE contracted a total of 1,050 extra beds in the private nursing home sector. A total of €28m is being allocated to cover the full year cost in 2007 of these beds. In addition, the HSE hopes to contract a further 350 beds in 2007 at a cost of €12m. 220 of these will be procured in the Greater Dublin area and 100 will be procured in HSE South.The HSE also proposes to expand public capacity by 397 beds in 2007 and by 408 in 2008. This expansion will take account of the regional variations identified in the HSE/Prospectus report. The running costs in full year of this additional public capacity will be €42m. According to the overview document for A Fair Deal there is a total of 9,488 beds in public nursing homes including Welfare Homes of which about 8,250 are long-stay beds. Approximately 7,415 older people currently occupy public long-term care beds. Overall between public and private residential facilities there are currently 21,200 older people in long-term residential care nationally. This equates to 4.6% of the over 65 population nationally.

As well as the provision of domiciliary services to support older people to remain living in their own homes, quality residential care facilities will be available to provide, not only long stay beds, but also assessment, diagnostic, rehabilitation, day care and respite services to help prevent hospitalisation and/or admission to long-stay care.