Mr. John Farrelly:

Under the Mental Health Act, we register, monitor and can take action on approved centres. They are the inpatient centres that are registered, and we have powers around that. Regarding all other mental health services, the inspector has the power to visit but we do not have powers to make them how they should be. For example, some of the hostels or community houses that people are in are not fit for purpose. That came across in the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, someone could be sharing a room with three other people he or she does not know. They would not be family members. No one else in society, apart perhaps from members of very big families, does that. There is that element.

The other aspect is the primary care services. If an individual or his or her child is unwell, he or she visits the GP or accident and emergency department. The idea is that people can go to secondary services before going to the final 1% of services. The idea, as Mr. Ryan said, is tiered services and that people are seen as early as possible in their communities. For example, if we take Clondalkin, people in that area will not go to Tallaght Hospital. The services are in Rowlagh, Neilstown or Palmerstown and people's needs are met in those services or in their home. We do not regulate any of that. In a way, this is unfair on the acute units because the very strong light we have shining on them means there is great transparency and all the issues are visible. That is caused by not having any scrutiny of the services in the community, which are not regulated.