Mr. John Farrelly:

I agree. It is a fundamental problem for me in terms of the response we get back. However, it is about the governance, the board, the CEOs, the people who sit at the executive committee and the politicians. We have to own this. With regard to the 50% figure for the care plans, I trained in England 30 years ago and that was just a given, whereas in Ireland, we nearly have to force people to do things. We are not going to get people to come into our service if people cannot even do a basic care plan properly. That is what it is all about - basic human rights and working with the person.

I agree with the Deputy. I can assure him that we in the commission have a new strategy which started last year. Our tolerance levels are now gone, and the Deputy will have seen our first prosecution in Kilkenny.

I would add that it is not just Waterford but also Wexford and all of that area, including Kilkenny, where a lot of work is needed, particularly in regard to community services, if we are not going to have the right number of acute beds.