Ms Mary O'Dowd:

My answer covers his question as well. Public health nurses are assigned to geographical areas and the literature states that the recommended ratio is one nurse per 2,500 people. As I speak there are many nurses looking after between 7,000 and 10,000 people due to a colleague being on maternity leave, the moratorium or whatever.

Let me explain the workload of a public health nurse. She will have a clinical caseload but must also deal with child health. Her clinical caseload will be the priority. We argue that child health will be squeezed out of the system unless we focus on the child health part of the public health nurse's role. I hope I have answered the Senator's question.

Models vary and the model used here is not unique. Most other countries have split the service into two groups, child health and adults and older people. I hope that answers the question on health models.

Senator Colm Burke asked a question on hospices.