Mr. Bernard Gloster:

Regarding Cork specifically, I will respond with some more detail next Wednesday when I appear before the committee again. The health system as a whole, the Minister, the Department and the HSE sees the value of community bed capacity as a big part of shifting emphasis away from the challenges that are in the acute hospital system. We also recognise the ageing profile and the volatility in the private nursing home sector. In principle, the answer is "yes" but how quickly is another matter. I will need to get back to the Deputy on the specifics of the Cork position. I just do not have-----