Dr. Peter Boylan:

With regard to MRI scans, as I explained to Deputy Donnelly, it really relates to foetal abnormalities and making sure the diagnosis is correct. With the numbers coming through it is likely that one or two MRIs would be perfectly sufficient to provide enough capacity. MRI is also very useful in other areas of women's health, especially in obstetric practice. There is an increasing number of placental problems involving the afterbirth invading the womb for women who have had several caesarean sections. That is becoming an increasing problem. Again, there needs to be one national centre for that sort of thing. In terms of the MRI scanner I talked about, my understanding is that with some alteration of consultant sessions and commitments as to who gets an MRI scan a national service could be established initially with one scanner and then another scanner should be introduced as well, somewhere, possibly in Cork because that is a large area.