James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 340: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will publish the Health Service Executive prospectus report on the needs assessment of bed capacity requirements in the areas of long stay, dementia specific and respite care beds for the period 2006 to 2036; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29975/09]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 341: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to deliver 860 long stay beds; the number that were built in 2007 and 2008; the location of these beds by county and Health Service Executive area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29976/09]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 342: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to deliver 860 long stay beds; the number delivered to date in 2009; the location of these beds by county and Health Service Executive area; if contracts have been signed and construction begun on these beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29977/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 342, inclusive, together.

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 and has informed proposals to expand capacity through the provision of 860 additional public beds under the Fast Track Bed Initiative.

The work is the subject of ongoing deliberations between the Department and the HSE and feeds into the development of future policy and infrastructure in the area of long-term care services for older people. The report was commissioned by, and remains the property of, the HSE. I also understand that it is commercially sensitive. For these reasons, I am not in a position to publish the report.

By end-2008, 273 additional beds had opened under the Fast-Track Initiative. These were located in the following areas:

A further 10 beds have opened to date this year, 6 in St. Finbarr's, Cork and 4 in Aras MacDara, Galway. The remaining beds under the Fast-Track Initiative will be delivered over the remainder of 2009 and 2010, subject to the HSE's overall budgetary position.

The signing of contracts and ongoing monitoring of construction progress is a matter for the HSE and I am asking the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on those issues.