A Government initiative to tackle the overcrowding crisis in hospital accident and emergency departments will see one of the country's busiest hospitals, Beaumont, get an extra 70 beds, Aidan Kennedy of the Progressive Democrats has announced.
St Joseph's Hospital in Raheny, which was brought three years ago by the state, is to become an annexe of Beaumont Hospital.
St Joseph's will also get a new 14-bed rehabilitation unit in October to care for the elderly.
The administrative control of St Joseph's Hospital was transferred to Beaumont hospital last Friday.