Dr. Sharon Sheehan:

I thank the Deputy for these questions and will start with them. The Deputy asked whether 19 maternity units constituted a viable option and where else we might examine. Thankfully, the maternity strategy is not a review of maternity services. We have so many reviews that another would be a waste. The strategy considers the future of maternity services and how to plan those. The chair of that group, Ms Sylda Langford, is keen on there being implementation. I welcome her strong views on its necessity.

We must be careful when considering our maternity units and our country that we do not end up with a coastal maternity service wherein the larger units in Dublin, Cork and Galway are the providers of all maternity care, with anyone living in the centre of the country not being catered for. I caution against a coastal remit in respect of maternity services.

Certainly at the strategy meetings-----