Mr. Liam Woods:

I have noted those. The Deputy asked about elderly care and the cost of home care, nursing home care and hospital care, and a logical movement. I wish to make one point about structure. Providing care on a joined-up basis in the way the Deputy mentioned can be assisted by structure, but structure itself will not enable anything for a patient. That is probably agreed.

The Deputy asked about the new ED in Limerick and whether the volumes were anticipated. Colette Cowan can elaborate on this if it would be helpful, but certainly there was an initial peak before it fell off. Then there was a gradual rise which is associated with care patterns in the mid-western region. The underlying challenge, and the Deputy referred to it elsewhere in his questions, is that there is a growing demand for service. In the mid-west that is presenting at a higher rate than elsewhere in terms of ED services. The pathways-----