Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2009 sets out the HSE's plan for the management and configuration of public long-term residential care services during 2009. As part of this plan, it will provide for a number of additional and replacement long-term residential care beds over the course of 2009. The latest information from the HSE indicates that 704 additional beds and 492 replacement beds will become operational during 2009. This includes beds being provided under the Capital Plan and beds being provided under the Fast-Track Initiative.

The plan also identifies a requirement to reduce the number of beds in long-term residential care units in some parts of the country, particularly where the standard of facilities is considered inadequate and where it is necessary to addresses infrastructural deficits in order to meet Health and Safety and Fire Requirements and the planned new standards. I can confirm to the Deputy that 287 beds are currently temporarily closed, primarily due to refurbishment and health and safety requirements. Of these, 126 are expected to re-open over the course of 2009; some will re-open as part of the replacement projects mentioned above. The HSE plans to close a further 145 beds during the remainder of 2009 in the following locations:

HSE DML — 38 beds

HSE South — 102 beds

HSE West — 5 beds

These closures are again necessitated by health and safety and fire requirements.