Ms Angela Denning:

No, I do not think we will be looking for an extension to the deadline for the discharge applications. There may be a lacuna that needs to be filled as to what happens to the people who have not been discharged - through nobody's fault - by the deadline, but we will have to wait and see closer to the time, I think.

The Senator asked a second question, which was about the efforts that have been made. We have made a significant communications effort with wards and their committees since 2021. A significant step change was the decision earlier this year by the Legal Aid Board to support us in assisting wards and their committees. I think that has really assisted with an increase in the numbers in 2025 - plus the feeling that people were getting closer to the deadline and they did not have much option at that stage.