Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the witnesses to identify a single issue apart from the need to add additional beds and so on. I remember that we were told some years ago there were 5,000 beds too many in the country and they had to be removed as a matter of urgency in order to concentrate on the specialist work that was to be done. We then heard in recent times there were 5,000 too few beds in the country and they needed to be increased and enhanced. I accept that, as I am a student of the latter theory. The question is whether the witnesses are satisfied that sufficient urgency is being applied to the provision of those extra beds now required.