Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that there are an adequate number of intensive care beds to make full use of the recent announcement of the investment in the all-island Congenital Heart Disease Network over the next five years; if this initiative and these beds will be fully staffed; the number of additional staff that will be employed as part of this; if contracts have been signed; the duration of these contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20939/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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An All-Island Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Network has been developed to ensure that all of the children and young people on the island of Ireland can access world class specialist care. The CHD Network Board prepared a business case for the development of the Network which I have approved in principle.

At present children from Northern Ireland requiring emergency surgical cardiology intervention are receiving services in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC). The Business Case sets out a plan for the phased transfer of all urgent cases from Northern Ireland to OLCHC between now and the end of 2017 and the transfer of elective cases by the end of 2018.

In order to facilitate this increase in service an increase in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) capacity will be required. This will involve the opening of currently unopened PICU beds and the proposed addition of a three-bed modular extension to the PICU unit.

As part of the Business Case for the All-island CHD Network, resources approved for 2016 under the HSE National Service Plan included 19 clinical staff and 6 administrative and portering staff. Of these 13 staff have been recruited on permanent contracts and recruitment procedures continue for the remainder .