Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide additional public long stay elderly care beds in order to address the growing need for such facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32160/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006, 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 for the period 2006-2036. This report was submitted to the Department of Health and Children in September 2006. It indicated, among other issues, the uneven distribution of beds between and within regions. In particular, HSE Dublin North East and HSE South were identified as having a requirement for additional beds.

The report has informed proposals to expand capacity through the provision of 860 additional public beds under the Fast Track Bed Initiative over the period 2007–2009. The latest information received from the Health Service Executive indicates that 188 of these beds were provided in 2007 and that 325 and 347 are to be provided in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Of these, 75 are in the HSE West, 316 are in the HSE South, 242 are in the HSE Dublin North East and 227 are in the HSE Mid-Leinster. The report is the subject of ongoing deliberations between the Department and HSE and feeds into the development of future policy and infrastructure in the area of long-term care services for older people.