Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of respite beds that are closed and are planned to be closed around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13237/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Additional funding of approximately €212 million has been provided to enhance community-based services for older people over the last three years. These measures were designed to improve the existing services the Government had already put in place and to widen the range of services available to older people. In this context, over €16 million has been made available since 2006 specifically for new Day and Respite Care services. The recent Budget will allow 1,245 additional clients nationally to avail of new Respite places in 2008 and brings the total projected Day Care provision by the Health Service Executive to approximately 21,300 places by the end of this year. Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including Respite and Day Care, was assigned to the HSE under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.