Mr. Seán Egan:

As part of our advisory group, we had input from estates experts in terms of what can be potentially provided. Our area of expertise lies in clinical safety and the design and delivery of clinical services. What is required in the first instance is a decision or decisions relating to exactly how services will be set out. From there, there are further pieces of work that need to be done, as we have highlighted already, where that additional planning piece needs to come in. There is a policy decision that is required here around how it is intended to configure services now and into the future. Once that decision has been made, at that point the appropriate input would be around the specifics of planning.

I will go back to the Deputy's original question on whether these options are mutually exclusive. No, they are not. We have said in our review that there is potential for the delivery of one or a number of these options at various different stages. Ultimately, as our CEO has outlined, there is a requirement for action now. Some of that action has occurred but more action is required. In addition, there is a requirement to plan for the future and there are various different ways that can be managed. One of the possible options is the development of a model 3 hospital but for the reasons we have outlined, that is not something that can be developed quickly. It would require significant investment from a capital perspective but also in terms of the development of clinical services that would be appropriate and sustainable.