Professor Aiden McCormick:

In terms of the forecasted numbers, we have actually engaged in a modelling exercise and think the figure is actually closer to 20,000 than 30,000. This finding is very consistent with the findings of the most recent study published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, which also calculated a figure of about 20,000. Part of the confusion is caused by the notified results. Up until 2012 people who were antibody positive were notified. They included those who had the virus and had cleared it. That gives a figure of 15,000 which includes about 4,000 who have cleared the virus.

I agree entirely with Deputy O'Connell that we have targeted the low hanging fruit, the people who will come to clinics. We have to target people who are in the community and that is exactly what we are doing. We now have four treatment programmes linked with methadone. I share the Deputy's observation that the patients who are on a methadone treatment programme are extremely good and compliant. As the one thing they know about is drugs, they know when to take them and we have had a very positive uptake.

We are expanding out to the community and we hope to expand it to level 1 and level 2 GPs and to community pharmacies so the process is ongoing. I do not know if I have answered all the questions.