Mr. Eugene Magee:

We have a 24-acre site. We envisage that the bulk of the existing hospital will be demolished and replaced over a phased period by a newer one. Were we to get the nod for that, spending €2.5 million over a five-year period would be bad value, but the latter will be necessary if we are to maintain the patient quota for reasons of privacy, space, etc. When I was appointed, the nightingale wards had 25 beds, but they have been reduced to 17 in an effort to make them a more satisfactory environment for the patients. Despite that, they still do not meet HIQA's requirements.