Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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285. To ask the Minister for Health when detailed planning and construction for the proposed new accident and emergency department at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3846/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Future investment at Beaumont Hospital must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, and also within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Future development at the Beaumont site must also be considered in the context of the establishment of hospital groups. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise its services to provide optimal care to the populations it serves. The HSE is concentrating on applying the funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.

As part of its 2015 - 2016 winter capacity planning, Beaumont is extending the Day Hospital at St. Joseph's, Raheny from a 2 day to a 5 day service. The Day Hospital provides a multi-disciplinary team for frail older people, thus providing an alternative care pathway for these patients, helping them to avoid ED admission. Rehabilitation and transitional care services are also provided in St. Joseph's, which facilitates earlier discharge from Beaumont and assists in avoiding re-admissions.

As the specific question raised by the Deputy are matters for the Health Service Executive, I have therefore 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.