Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the number of acute general hospital beds available throughout the public health sector has fluctuated in each of the past ten years to date; if augmentation is warranted; and if so, to what extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15139/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government approach to addressing the perceived acute bed shortage is to reduce over-reliance on the acute sector and to develop care in more appropriate community and day care based settings which is more consistent with best practice in Ireland and internationally and capable of providing better care and results. 'Future Health' commits to a move away from the current hospital-centric model of care towards a new model of integrated care which treats patients at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient, and as close to home as possible. This will help to reduce costs, improve access and move from the existing emphasis on episodic reactive care towards preventative, planned and well co-ordinated care. This is particularly important for the growing numbers of people with chronic conditions and those with two or more diseases and disorders.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, 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.