asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, made in moving patients out of the temporary huts at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin and when the new 72-bed unit already built at the hospital will be opened.

The Eastern Health Board are at present in the process of recruiting staff for the new 72-bed unit at St. Ita's, Portrane. The board intend to open the unit next month on a phased basis.

This new 72-bed unit together with the completion of other improvement schemes at the hospital will allow for about three-quarters of the patients at present housed in the temporary buildings to be moved to better accommodation this year. The rest will be moved as soon as possible after that.

Would the Minister give an undertaking that those temporary huts will not be made available for any of the mentally handicapped people?

Yes.

They will no longer be in use?

No.

When does the Minister think the last quarter of the total number will be moved? Will it be this year? I have been looking for this information since 1970 and that is why I am pushing this. Could I have an indication of how long?

We will do it as quickly as possible. As soon as we get the staff and the new building is phased in, we will have three-quarters of them moved out of that unacceptable accommodation. The remaining quarter, I hope, will not present that big a problem.

Would the Minister be prepared to give a commitment for two years?

Yes.

I have been waiting nine years——

The remaining quarter numbers 18. Is there no possibility that an extra 18 beds could be found in the hospital complex so that these huts could be closed permanently?

As the Deputy knows our problem up to now has been and to some extent still is, the recruitment of staff.

The Minister will appreciate that if 18 people are left in the temporary accommodation staff will have to be provided to care for them. I am asking if it would not be possible to find 18 beds within the complex and transfer with them the people who are staffing the temporary building and close the temporary building as and from next month?

It is not just a question of beds as the Deputy knows. The staffing situation has been the subject of long, complicated and difficult negotiations. I think the end is now in sight.

I am sure at this stage everybody would be prepared to cooperate.

I hope so.