Mr. John Dolan:

On Senator Hayden's question in regard to duplication of services, generally speaking there is not duplication of services. That is not to suggest one would not find instances of it here and there. There is still chronic unmet need across a range of areas in disability and mental health. My view on whether there should be a streamlining of or fewer organisations is that generally speaking one would lose more than one would gain by doing that. These are organisations which in the main have come into existence to meet a need identified in their families or communities. On whether they can be more effective or efficient, the answer is "Yes". The Disability Federation has been working with other organisations on this during the past few years and has, in the context of the disability strategy, told them that they have to work with others, in the same way as Departments must work with each other. There are not two post polio support groups or two MS societies in Ireland. Under the protection of our Constitution, civil society and others have been able to come together and form organisations. We need to strike a balance in this area, in particular in respect of organisations working with disabled children. Work on how to get organisations to work together more effectively is ongoing.

Some would say there are too many political parties.