Mr. Michael Fitzgerald:

Our intention is not to re-provide the 24 beds in continuing care and rehabilitation as they have been in Midleton.

What we intend to do is ensure that our support to people who live in that broad community the Deputy talked about is maintained and increased in line with Government policy and that on the site itself we work with the local authority to build a new building that will provide for support and independent living, which is the journey we are asked to go on from a policy perspective nationally. I hear the Deputy's concern, though, about continuing care and rehabilitation required for inpatients. We hear that very clearly. The reality is that we need development in the greater Cork area for good centres and good, appropriate beds in order that we can deliver that to what will be a decreasing number of people who will need that level of specialist service. We have already developed our thoughts as to how and where we have to do that. Going back to what Dr. O'Brien said earlier, we have to take the broader Cork area into account. We have to look at the specialist-led services we are providing. We have very much a community model to provide to the broad community. It is also important to say that that is in line not just with mental health services but with other areas. The east Cork areas the Deputy has talked about form a community healthcare network area where we are providing additional services in primary care, chronic disease and older persons' services in general. Again, the model is one whereby we bring the service locally, there are specialised teams and it is supported and provided or led by consultants. That is the model with which mental health services fit exactly.