James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the total number of hospital beds, both public and private for each of the years 1997 to end 2009 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30379/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The national average number of acute hospital beds available in public hospitals for each of the years 1997 - 2007 broken down by public, private and non designated is set out in the tabular statement below. Acute bed numbers in public hospitals are counted as an average of beds available over each year, given that the number of beds available in each hospital can vary over any year for operational reasons. 2007 is the latest year in respect of which validated data has been compiled by the HSE. The data includes both inpatient beds and day places. My Department has requested the HSE to provide validated data on national average number of acute hospital beds available in 2008 and 2009 to the Deputy as soon as these become available.

Finally while the number of acute beds in private hospitals at any time is not collected or verified by my Department or by the HSE, I understand that in 2009 there were approximately 2,300 inpatient beds and 450 day beds in private hospitals which are members of the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation.

Publicly Funded Acute Hospitals

Average number of beds available for use

1997 - 2007