Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the measures to reduce overcrowding in emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28315/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Against a background of rising demand for unscheduled care, €30m was allocated to the HSE in 2017 and a further €40m provided in 2018 to respond to winter pressures and alleviate overcrowding in hospital Emergency Departments (EDs).

This Government is committed to breaking the cycle of overcrowding in our health service. In the light of the conclusions of the Health Service Capacity Review that the system will need nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds by 2031, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019. My Department has received proposals from the HSE in this regard, which are currently under consideration.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.