Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason 22 beds remain closed at the Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, County Tipperary; the efforts he is making to ensure that these beds are re-opened at the earliest opportunity; the date on which they will be re-opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40994/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The bed provision at the Hospital of the Assumption was reduced by 22 in September 2011, from 67 to 45 beds. This was due to budgetary pressures within the health service and the substantial over-reliance on agency staffing to maintain the facility in the context of the moratorium.

Since earlier this year the HSE has been working on a new approach to introduce a management and operational plan for the 3 older person’s public residential services in the North Tipperary area. In this regard additional provision has been made for the appointment of 6.5 whole time nursing posts to older person services in North Tipperary.

The plan which the HSE is pursuing will see these residential services operating as one service spread over the 3 sites. This will reduce the management requirement from 3 management systems at nursing level to a single management system and a single director. Furthermore, a realignment of the skill mix and redeployment of a small number of existing staff will enhance service provision.

As a result of this ongoing process the Community Hospital of the Assumption last week increased provision from 45 to 50 beds. The matter will be kept under continuous review.