Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Nearly 1,000 people are waiting for appointments with CAMHS. I will raise a couple of issues about UHL. When the term "clinical advice" is used, it often shuts down any debate. I would always give way to clinical advice but it is clear that there was a problem with the reconfiguration of the hospital groups. The mid-west's is the only hospital group that does not have a model 3 hospital. Other groups have multiple model 3 hospitals. It is the stepdown version of an emergency department. It was, it would appear, an oversight because there is no logical explanation for the absence of a model 3 hospital. Is any consideration being given to the designation of one of the other hospitals as a model 3 hospital?

My next question relates to the availability of Barringtons hospital, which has 53 beds and a lot of the other capacity required for a functioning hospital is up and running. I raised the matter with the Taoiseach last week and he said he would pursue the issue with the Minister for Health. May I ask those two questions of Mr. Watt? Is model 3 being explored? Is the acquisition of Barringtons hospital being explored?