Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients in hospital beds in the Dublin area because places are not available for them in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39242/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Immediately following my appointment I set about establishing the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system.

The SDU is establishing an infrastructure based on information collection and analysis, hospital by hospital, so that we will know what is actually happening in real time. This will allow us to begin to embed performance management in the system, to manage bed capacity and to sustain shorter waiting times.

The problems in our emergency departments are complex and they did not arise overnight. For some hospitals the issue of delayed discharges are a factor and I have agreed that some additional funding may be provided to alleviate this. The funding will be issued on a strictly once off basis, based on specific proposals including the reduction of delayed discharges to cut down waiting times between now and the end of the year. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply in relation to the numbers of patients waiting for nursing home places in Dublin.

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Health in view of the shortage of beds for nursing home patients the basis of his plans to close a nursing home (details supplied) in County Dublin [39243/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply