In relation to his plans for Clonmel, the Minister will be aware that there are many patients in Clonmel from the Eastern Health Board area and that the health board have indicated they have nowhere in which to place those patients in institutional or community care. Is this not the danger most people fear, that the closure of large institutions will result in numbers of people being thrown on to inadequately developed and funded community based care? Indeed, they would be thrown on communities who would be unprepared to deal with psychiatric cases. On that basis is there not an immediate need for a review of how he will proceed with the implementation of his plans?

I will approach those problems on a positive basis. At any time in Ireland one will receive most articulate and comprehensive reasons for not doing something. I am sure the Deputy was referring to Carlow rather than Clonmel. In relation to Carlow, I have given approval for immediate design work for the 30-bed acute psychiatric unit in Naas General Hospital. Phase 2 has been brought forward to the middle of this year. That, to an extent, will take care of the catchment area of Kildare with its approximate 70,000 population. I am reviewing admissions to Carlow and the provision of resources there for supervised and unsupervised hostels in Kildare and Carlow. I am examining the possible provision of day care facilities in the area. The Deputy will share my view that a number of mentally handicapped patients in Carlow and in the other hospitals should be taken out as quickly as possible and put into alternative care. I am not including in my references the prospect of the immediate opening of a 50-bed psychiatric unit in Beaumont Hospital, adjacent to the Deptuy's constituency. A great deal of work can be done during 1986 but it will be done in a sensitive basis.