Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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366. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his plans for extra bed capacity in the short term at University Hospital Waterford. [46760/18]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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367. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his plans for extra bed capacity in the long term at University Hospital Waterford. [46761/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.

Increasing capacity is a priority for the Government. Over the past 12 months, an additional 240 beds have been opened, including 18 beds at University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

As a first step towards the implementation of the Capacity Plan, €10 million in funding is being made available in 2019 to increase bed capacity. My Department is currently in discussion with the HSE, in the context of the National Service Plan 2019, to identify the sites for investment and the associated number of beds, as part of an agreed capacity programme for 2019.

The selection and opening of beds on specific sites in 2019 and future years will be considered as part of the annual estimates and service planning process, and subject to financial, operation, human resource and policy considerations and priorities.