Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average annual increase or decrease in the number of hospital beds since 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28680/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The number of beds available in each hospital can vary over any year for operational reasons. Acute bed numbers in public hospitals are counted as an average of beds available over each year. The national average number of acute hospital beds available in public hospitals in 2007, the latest year for which validated data has been compiled by the HSE, was 13,688. This includes both in-patient beds and day places. An average of approximately 20% of these are categorised as private beds. My Department has requested the HSE to provide validated data on the national average number of acute hospital beds available in 2008 and 2009 to the Deputy as soon as these become available.