Ms Eileen O'Brien:

It certainly is. When one thinks about the early difficulties, there are a lot of developmental deficits, even between age nought and age 5, and in middle childhood and into the teens the educational deficits play a part. If I was say what presents across the board, addiction is what brings them to the door. In recent years, because of the polydrug use, there are associated mental health difficulties because the cocktails of chemicals cause various mental disturbances. Therefore, mental health issues are very much to the fore as well.

It can be taken that there are some levels of literacy difficulties, especially with guys in their 30s. The younger lads are benefiting from some of the early interventions that have been in place in the educational system in the past 15 years or so. However, before that those interventions were not available so we come across lads in their 30s with numeracy and literacy difficulties. The low self-esteem is par for the course.

In recent times accommodation is becoming more of an issue. Young men on their own are way down the priority for housing. We sometimes get support from Cork Simon Community or perhaps from other supported living situations where, following treatment, sometimes there is a phase two treatment where they might get accommodation for three or four months. The Simon Community has some independent houses - dry houses - and the lads can stay there for up to six months.

Mr. O'Donnell might like to add to that.