John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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735. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to roll out the winter initiative in County Wicklow; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46426/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of this Government and I am delighted that €40 million in additional funding in 2017 has been made available as part of the 2018 Budget to address winter pressures and waiting lists over the rest of this year.

This funding will be aimed at reducing overcrowding in our hospitals in this period through the provision of extra capacity and additional supports.

In the meantime, I can inform colleagues that a total €5 million of this funding winter funding for 2017 will be focused on supporting older people to remain in their own homes by providing 45 additional home care packages and 20 additional transitional care beds per week over the Winter period. These measures will cost an additional €25 million in 2018 and this funding has been ring-fenced for allocation in 2018.

My Department continues to work intensively with the HSE to address the challenges and monitor performance in our EDs.