Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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51. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the provision of the proposed 60 bed modular unit at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50606/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To support demographic projections and the increase in demand for services, the Health Service Capacity Review 2018 and the Slaintecare Implementation Strategy recommends, in addition to major reform of the health system, an increase in acute hospitals beds of over 2,600 by 2031.

The National Development Plan provides capital funding to support this increase in acute hospital beds, over the next 10 years.

Accordingly, health care reform and addressing the health system's capacity challenges, including acute hospital bed capacity, will remain a priority for the Government in 2019.

The HSE is currently developing its National Service Plan and Capital Plan for 2019.

The proposed modular 60 bed ward block at University Hospital Limerick is being considered as part of this process.