Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the deputations for their comprehensive presentations. As someone who had to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, I have an idea of what it is like. In many ways, it is a lonely journey. A person needs a good deal of support and I fully understand from where people are coming in that regard.

The HIQA health technology assessment of 2012 suggested the upfront cost was too high for the service to be established in Ireland. Have we moved on from that assessment? What are the upfront costs? When that assessment was made, was it purely from the point of view of providing a service in the Twenty-six Counties? We are now discussing adopting a Thirty-two Counties approach, which is obviously the most logical way of dealing with the matter. Taking this into account, can we get over the hurdle where in 2012 the service was identified as not being cost-effective? By approaching the matter in the way we are approaching it, are we able to get over this problem?

Reference has been made to the upfront costs and the need for additional staff. What are the numbers of additional staff required? Is the expertise available in Ireland or is it a case of having to recruit from outside it? Do we need medical and nursing staff or nursing staff alone? We seem to have a good deal of medical expertise, but what else do we need? When will we have all of this information? The 2012 analysis presents a problem in the sense that it in writing. We have to get over that problem. The presentations were comprehensive and persuasive. This is about ensuring we can use the process for people's benefit and to develop a service. Perhaps we might receive some clarification on the matter.