It is stated on page 61 of the programme for Government that the Government will develop protocols to enable ambulances to take patients to the most appropriate location rather than the nearest emergency department. The 24-hour accident and emergency departments in Bantry and Mallow were closed a number of years ago and now, despite the concerns of people in west Cork, ambulances must transport patients to Cork University Hospital. Those in the west of the county are worried about capacity at the hospital and they even came to the Dáil in buses in order to protest and highlight the issues. Yesterday evening, a code black notice was issued in Cork University Hospital because the emergency department was completely overcrowded. Eight ambulances were backed up at one point. This left west Cork with a depleted ambulance service. Ambulance staff - who we know cannot even have their own union - due to end their shift at 8 p.m. had to work until 3 a.m. The emergency department was totally overcrowded, with reports of people sitting on the floor and queueing out the door. This morning, 70 patients were waiting for beds in Cork University Hospital. It is clear there is a lack of capacity in the hospital to deal with the extra patients resulting from the closure of the 24-hour accident and emergency department in Bantry. Will consideration be given to opening the emergency assessment units in Bantry and Mallow for longer hours and possibly on a 24-hour basis?

Earlier, I was asked a question by Deputy McDonald about Cork University Hospital, which clearly had a lot of pressure last night - it is experiencing it again today - in terms of capacity. The hospital is trying to respond to this in the appropriate way today.