Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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890. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which plans to put in place a new winter programme are afoot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51258/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The health sector is expecting to face significant challenges this winter in providing emergency care and dealing with Covid-19 in addition to the normal challenges of the Winter period.

The Government has provided a significant investment of €1.2bn in budget 2021 to expand capacity, increases services and support reform and this level of investment is being maintained in budget 2022.  An additional €22m is also being allocated in budget 2022 to enhance specific additional winter initiatives in 2022.

HSE plans will ensure that the health service is prepared for the challenges of Winter 21/22 and that the substantial level of investment being committed to by Government is reflected in the Winter Plan 2021/22. This will build on last year’s significant investment allocated to the Winter Plan and the additional capacity delivered in health services in 2021 to deliver considerable improvements in emergency department performance.

The winter plan will provide for the appropriate, safe and timely care for patients by ensuring insofar as possible that effective levels of capacity and resources are in place to meet the expected growth in activity levels.