Mr. Robert Watt:

I accept, and the numbers are clear, that there is a shortage of beds in the mid-west. As the Deputy knows, a 96-bed or 98-bed block is being developed and another will come on stream after that. We need to increase capacity and the Department is reviewing that on an ongoing basis. There absolutely are particularly acute problems within that region and we are all aware of that. There is a need for more capacity. As the Deputy knows, the Government has invested significantly to provide more beds, staff and resources but we clearly need to do more.