Mr. Jim Ryan:

I will ask Dr. Niazi to comment shortly. As a precursor, as the Deputy is aware, the refresh of A Vision for Change, Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, envisages a review of acute bed capacity in the country. That is welcome and timely, and the HSE will absolutely be involved in that. I hope it will address over time the issues raised by Deputy Cullinane.

There were 20,000 people in psychiatric hospitals in 1960 and now there are approximately 1,039 beds. Therefore, we have moved much of our care to the community but we must be cognisant that the pendulum may swing too far at times.