I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together.
In July 2003, I made additional funding of €5.5 million available to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, €3.8 million, and the Southern Health Board, €1.7 million, to allow them access appropriate care package for patients occupying acute beds but whose acute phase of treatment was over. The operational capacity of acute hospitals in the Dublin and Cork areas in particular are restricted by the continued occupancy of beds by patients who could be discharged if appropriate facilities were available elsewhere. The full year cost of this initiative is €12.6 million, of which €8.8 million is available to the ERHA and €3.8 million to the Southern Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officers of the Southern Health Board and the ERHA to provide the most up-to-date position to the Deputy in relation tothe number of persons to benefit from this initiative.