Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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743.To ask the Minister for Health when the new 24-bed block for Nenagh Hospital will be built [24953/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The recently published Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024–2031 provides for an expansion of acute inpatient capacity over the period 2024–2031. The plan was informed by HSE modelling and a site by site assessment, as well as ongoing work by the ESRI.

In addition to the net additional 1,218 acute hospital beds delivered since 2020, the plan aims to deliver 4,367 acute hospital in-patient beds by 2031. This includes 3,352 new beds, with the location of these new beds mapped across the six regional health areas. The 3,352 new beds contained in the plan is comprised of 2,997 net additional beds, as well as 355 replacement beds. These new beds are in addition to the 1,015 beds already under construction or previously committed to.

The Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024–2031 follows an unprecedented investment in healthcare capacity under this government. Since 2020 an additional 1,218 inpatient acute beds have been opened, representing the largest expansion of public acute hospital capacity in the history of the Health Service.

The Bed Capacity Plan has been developed in-line with the following principles and criteria, in line with the Department of Health’s Strategic Health Investment Framework (SHIF):

• Expanding capacity to meet current and future need and aligned with clinical strategies/plans.
• Balanced regional health capacity.
• Value for money, a focus on delivery timeframes and climate impact through use of both traditional and modern methods of construction; and
• investment per hospital that is contingent on each hospital being able to demonstrate productivity with existing allocation of capacity and resources.

• The provision of capital funding allocated through the National Development Plan currently provided to 2026.
• Site readiness that is dependent on decanting activity off-site, progressing enabling works to free up space to build additional capacity, engagement with providers to relocate existing and access new utility service capacity.
• Engagement with planning authorities and the statutory planning process.
• Public Procurement requirements and Infrastructure Guidance for appraisal & delivery.
• Available construction sector capacity and modern construction technologies that can respond to each of the projects at site and regional level.

All projects being progressed must be compliant with the Infrastructure Guidelines. Information on the project timeline will become clearer as the design process advances.