HSE assistant national director for older persons services Patricia Whelehan also told the committee that there were 1,496 short stay beds in use at the end of last year, 154 fewer than expected. Further records released to Irish Medical Times under Freedom of Information show that, at the end of June this year, 276 residential HSE beds – 125 long stay and 151 short term – were closed across the country. More than half of the closed beds – 142 – were located in the HSE West and North West region. In her update, Ms Whelehan said that average occupancy of short stay beds last year was 78.4 per cent – below the HSE target of 90 per cent. A total of 4,656 older persons’ need assessments were completed in 2025 – 74 per cent below the target set for the year of 18,100.