49 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the recent report from the Eastern Regional Health Authority that it will need a further 1,276 beds by 2011 to cope with ever growing demand from inside and outside the region. [5491/01]

As the Deputy is aware, I have initiated a national review of bed capacity in the acute and non-acute sectors, on foot of the commitment by Government in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The review is being conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. Funding of £32 million has been approved to date on foot of phase one of the review to help alleviate service pressures and to maintain services to patients in the acute hospital sector, particularly over the winter period.