Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

208. To ask the Minister for Health if the full 75 beds planned to be opened under the winter plan 2018-19 were opened; and if they are still open on a full-time basis. [42758/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

According to the most recent Information provided by the HSE, 71 of the 75 acute beds opened under the HSE Winter Plan 2018/2019 currently remain open. While funding was originally only allocated to maintain the beds during the busy winter period, the HSE have indicated that they will keep these beds open for the entire year.

The HSE also advised that they are reviewing the status of the beds, with the relevant hospitals, in the context of planning for Winter 2019/2020 and the 2020 National Service Plan. My Department will be provided with a further update in the next number of weeks.