Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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558. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the bed capacity review; when this will conclude; the terms of reference for the review; the definition of a bed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34928/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the undertaking of a national hospital bed capacity review "to establish the number, type and location of beds required into the future recognising the need for a range of beds including critical care, palliative and day case bed stock". This is an important piece of work which will enable the determination of future capacity requirements across the system and provide a basis for planning our health service into the future.

In order to be as effective as possible, I am anxious that this review will take a broad approach to capacity across our health service. In this regard, preliminary work is underway in my Department to determine the parameters and terms of reference for the review. I hope that this initial work will be completed shortly and that the review will be advanced sufficiently to enable it to contribute to the review of the Capital Plan 2016 - 2021 next year.