Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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21. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he will improve the overcrowding at accident and emergency departments in various hospitals throughout the country, by way of bringing onstream, step-down beds available in existing public or private hospitals, as per submissions to his Department, from both the public and private sector, throughout the January 2015; if he will undertake a review of the availability of such facilities in this regard; if further improvement, in regard to staffing levels at accident and emergency departments, will be a feature of any review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7977/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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ED overcrowding is a key priority issue for me and for the Government and I acknowledge the difficulties which the current surge in ED activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances.

All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges. The HSE is accessing all suitable non-acute accommodation to the maximum extent possible to allow those who have been clinically discharged to leave acute hospitals. Actions currently being taken to address ED overcrowding include the provision of 900 additional transitional care beds in nursing homes (500 in January and an additional 400 in February); 173 short stay public beds being opened across the country for a three month period; up to 300 overflow beds opened in acute hospitals; additional home care packages; and 300 additional Fair Deal places and extension in Community Intervention Teams.

The HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services. Arrangements are in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of such staff where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement and this year the number of nurses directly employed by the public health service will increase by at least 500. The HSE is currently finalising an action plan under the auspices of the ED Taskforce to specifically address ED issues with a view to a significant reduction in trolley waits over the course of 2015.