Mr. Dean Sullivan:

I am happy to answer that. The Department completed a trauma review a few years ago, the report relating to which contained 40 recommendations. Three or four of the recommendations related to work in the east of the country, as mentioned by the Deputy. We established a trauma implementation group approximately a year and a half ago and it has responsibility to make recommendations regarding the location of the major trauma centre and the trauma units within the Dublin area, the appointment of a national clinical lead, the taking forward of the by-pass protocols and the costing of the implementation of the trauma review as a whole. We made good progress in all aspects, with the implementation of more trauma by-pass protocols, the appointment of the national clinical lead, Mr. Keith Synnott, who has been in post for several months, and recommendations made and discussions ongoing with the Department in respect of the major trauma centre and trauma unit issue. In general, good progress has been made regarding all of these aspects and in discussion with the Department. We are now finalising the plan for the wider implementation of the trauma strategy and not just in respect of the issues relating to the east. Across the piece, good progress has been made.