Ms Fiona Coyle:

I reflect the Cathaoirleach’s comments in that there are amazing individuals across the HSE who are personally passionate about this issue. This is always on the list of priorities of the social inclusion office, the mental health operations office and the mental health engagement and recovery office. My point is that beyond the office and its priorities, there is a resourcing issue. They are doing what they can with the resources they have and I think more could be done. Both the HSE office for social inclusion and the mental health office have partnerships with all of the organisations at this hearing.

As part of our pre-budget campaign we were advocating mental health reform to increase the resourcing to the voluntary and community sector in budget 2024. Due to the increasing cost of living, what organisations can deliver on the same money as last year is less. Unfortunately, that funding did not come through. It is about funding. However, it is also about recognising that the HSE in itself is one of the biggest employers in this country. The HSE is in every county and community throughout Ireland. There are HSE services and it is about changing the culture and practice. These offices are doing great work in delivering services and supporting communities but where is the engagement with their colleagues across the different services throughout the country? Colleagues here have also said this. We need to ensure that it is not just left to that office. This is bigger than that and it needs to be bigger than that. My point is that this is not just taken up by a particular office. Delivering services for everyone, is everyone's business.