As the greater part of the cost of such specialised in-patient programmes are funded by the State, does the Minister agree that immediate action should be taken? I should also like to ask the Minister if he was concerned at the findings in this report.

Overall, it is a very good report and has given considerable hope for the future development of our psychiatric services. Last week, when I met my European colleagues at a conference to discuss the question of mental treatment in Ireland, that report was widely referred to as one of the outstanding reports. It was carried out by the professional psychiatric staffs of the hospitals and by the Department of Health and is regarded as a blueprint for implementation.

Does the Minister require health boards to have an ongoing evaluation of those programmes?

I do, but unfortunately many of the health boards evaluate it in terms of local interest rather than in terms of global requirements.