Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2024
404. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the schedule of delivery for the 22 additional critical care beds provided for in the HSE National Service Plan 2024. [30796/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Strategic Plan for Critical Care that was brought to Government in 2020 is successfully addressing historical deficiencies in critical care capacity. Significant funding of €78.2 million has been provided by Government since 2021 under Phase 1 of the Strategic Plan. This funding provides for an additional 94 beds over the 2020 baseline figure of 258 beds and will bring capacity to 352. At the end of 2023, there were 329 beds in place. A further 22 beds were confirmed in NSP 2024. Today, there are 334 beds in place, an increase of 76 beds or 29.5% on the baseline figure. To put the increase into perspective, there had been an increase of just 21 beds in the previous eight years (2013 -2020 inclusive). As the delivery of the remaining beds is a service matter, I have referred the matter to the HSE for direct reply.
