Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1097. To ask the Minister for Health the extra resources and supports being put into hospitals to deal with the latest outbreak of influenza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1945/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As part of Winter planning this year, all Acute Hospitals and Community Health Organisations (CHOs) were required to developed integrated Winter Plans setting out the set of measures to be put in place at each hospital to ensure they are prepared for the increased demand for services, including from the spread of influenza, that the Winter months bring.

In addition as part of the Budget 2018 announcements, an additional €40 million was provided in 2017 for additional measures to alleviate pressure on our Acute Hospitals this winter. An element of this funding was provided to support a public health campaign aimed at improving uptake of the influenza vaccination this winter.

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.