Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which his initiative to alleviate overcrowding at accident and emergency units is expected to have an early and positive impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15137/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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ED overcrowding is a key issue for me and for the Government. I acknowledge the consistent staff effort to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances, but I acknowledge equally the difficulties experienced by patients and their families.

Nationally the Government provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in early 2015 to tackle Delayed Discharges and ED Overcrowding. On 2 April, I announced further funding of €74m. As a result, 746 Applicants have been or are in the process of being notified of funding approval under the Nursing Home Support Scheme and waiting times for placement are reducing.

As well as additional funding, I pursued the establishment of the ED Taskforce to determine time-defined actions to optimise existing hospital and community capacity, develop internal capability and improve processes, leadership, governance, planning and oversight.

In respect of specific anticipated service impacts, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.