Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Health when the multi-annual unscheduled care plan will be published. [49678/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Sláintecare implementation strategy, the HSE is developing a three year unscheduled care plan, the first element of which will be the implementation of measures at acute hospital and community level to achieve an initial increase in capacity.

In this context, €10 million in funding is being made available in 2019 to increase acute bed capacity in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review. 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.