Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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712. To ask the Minister for Health when the bed capacity review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46221/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Work on the Health Service Capacity Review is progressing. As I have previously stated, the review will have a wider scope than previous exercises and will examine key elements of primary and community care infrastructure in addition to hospital facilities. As part of the review process, my Department has commissioned external consultants to provide technical, analytical and engagement expertise. A Steering Group is overseeing the project and an independent international peer review group is involved in ongoing review and validation of the methodology and approach. My Department has also undertaken a public consultation process to ensure that stakeholder views are fed into the process.

The findings from the Review will provide a basis for determining both the extent of capacity requirements over the next 15 years and the type of capacity that is needed at a national and regional level. The emerging findings from the review will inform the development of a new 10 year national capital plan later this year. The final report will be published before the end of the year.