Ms Anne O'Connor:

On the use of space, we have escalation plans. Each hospital has its own escalation plan and there is a point in that plan whereby other space within the hospital would be used if it could not cope with the numbers coming through. That would result in using space that might otherwise be used for elective care, and so on, so there is obviously a balance to be struck in terms of how much of that activity is stopped. However, we are also challenged because we sometimes have a significant number of people who require isolation due to infection. We then have to consider the staffing of additional space. Given we are at times challenged to staff the space we have open all of the time, if we add more into the mix, it can create challenges.

I note the Deputy's point on home care. Our waiting lists are considerable. CHO 7, which is an area relating to Naas and Tallaght, is particularly challenged. I want to reassure the Deputy that Naas is one of the nine sites of focus for us in the winter period. It is named specifically in the winter plan, so it will be receiving significant attention as part of that.