May I ask the Minister because of the crisis that exists in the care of the elderly at present where the accommodation situation is appalling if he will consider transferring the role of some of the hospitals, which are now under threat, to care for the elderly. For example, in my own city, could the North Infirmary, which is very much in the news, now be converted into a hospital for the elderly?

I do not accept there is a crisis existing in regard to hospital accommodation for the elderly. I accept there are gaps in the service and, indeed, there were gaps in the service long before I came into office. I am awaiting this report and I hope to be in a position to do something about it. On the question of providing hospital facilities I made a decision, and reversed the decision of my predecessor, to maintain Baggot Street Hospital as a community hospital in the city and, hopefully, it will alleviate the need for hospital accommodation for the elderly, or at least part of it.

Since the Minister has gone on to specifics, has he any plans for converting the North Infirmary in Cork into a home?

That is a separate question.

I have no such plans.

The Minister went into specifics about Baggot Street Hospital.