Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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472. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reopen the short-stay unit at Letterkenny University Hospital; the timeline for the reopening of the unit; the number of beds planned for same; the timeframe for the recruitment of the new staff required for the short stay unit; if a budget has been ring-fenced for the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43861/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Arising from the recommendations in the Health Service Capacity Review, my Department engaged with the HSE this year to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which could be frontloaded to address pressures being experienced in our hospital Emergency Departments.

This process culminated in the development by the HSE of a Capacity Plan, which identified over 600 acute beds and 290 residential care beds, to be phased in between 2018 and 2020, including a 20-bed short stay ward in Letterkenny University Hospital.

As a first step towards the implementation of the Capacity Plan, €10 million in funding is being made available in 2019 to prepare the ground for opening additional acute beds for winter 2019/2020.  My Department is currently engaging with the HSE to finalise the details of this investment.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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473. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to upgrade Croom Orthopaedic Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43867/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.