James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to provide ten new 50 bed community nursing units in the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30045/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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There has been a significant capital investment in infrastructure to support services for older people since 2007. The outturns for 2007 and 2008 were approximately €86 million and €115 million respectively. This includes the construction of new units and the upgrade of existing premises.

The Executive's delivery of Community Nursing Units (CNU) and the upgrading of existing facilities are informed by the Prospectus Report which identified and prioritised the areas of greatest need and developed a programme of additional and replacement long stay residential places. This is also reflected in the HSE's Capital Plan.

The public Fast-Track Initiative aims to provide 860 new public long-stay beds over the period 2007-2010. By end-2008, 273 additional long-stay beds had been provided under the Initiative. 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 715 additional beds and 371 replacement beds will become operational during 2009, subject to the availability of resources. This includes beds being provided under the Capital Plan and beds being provided under the Fast-Track Initiative. The HSE have indicated that 10 additional beds were provided under the Fast-Track Initiative to date this year.