Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief, as most of the issues have been raised. I support the agency's establishment, there is widespread support for it and goodwill towards Mr. Jeyes and the entire concept. However, it is a significant undertaking. Although it cannot be compared with the change from the health boards to the HSE, that kind of change comes to mind. I am not satisfied that the change to the HSE was done in an appropriate way or that what we have now is what we had hoped we would get. Can Mr. Jeyes give an undertaking that the idea behind the agency will work in practice? What is the timescale for the agency's implementation? Many have mentioned the delays about which we are all frustrated.

My next two issues have been raised by others, but I need to raise them again. I have raised them with the Minister by way of parliamentary question, but I am not sure what the replies meant. Having listened to Mr. Jeyes, I am not sure what he means either. Perhaps he will clarify the matters for me.

First, I wish to address the culture and ethos of family resource centres. My constituency of Tipperary South has the Millennium, Spafield and Three Drives family resource centres, which do good work. These centres need confirmation that their ethos and culture will be taken on board as part of the new agency.

I have previously put to the Minister the question of whether the centres will have a representative on the board, the response to which was not very clear. Perhaps Mr. Jeyes will say if a decision has been made and, if not, whether in his view they should be represented on the board.

On psychologists, what is the current situation in regard to the psychology service? Has a decision in that regard been taken? If so, what is that decision. If not, when will a decision be made? Also, what is Mr. Jeyes' view on psychologists transferring to the agency or remaining within the HSE but connected to the agency?