Mr. Liam Woods:

The national office will have a strong connection with the networks. It is through that connection that we would look for the strategy to be implemented. The network sits at a group level and reaches into each of the sites. Reference was made earlier to the cancer control programme. Part of this model is analogous to the cancer control programme. One has a central office that is influential in the hospital environment in terms of decisions about resources and the direction of travel in terms of clinical service provision and safe standards of care. The office will play a key role nationally and will have a direct link with the network. It will also work with the groups within which each network sits.

I shall come back to the Senator's question on clinical placement co-ordinators, CPCs. A director of midwifery is being recruited into each unit and they will work as part of the network. We see the recruitment as part of the network in terms of delivery. The wider points made by the Senator about training, support and placement are relevant to the role. Perhaps my colleague, Mr. McGrane, wishes to comment.