Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I asked that question because, as public representatives, we work week in, week out with groups that would be accessing funding from the HSE, groups that are hanging on by their fingernails to survive and to provide a service. I have a letter from the Committee of Public Accounts, PAC, from 26 January of this year to Mr. O'Brien in respect of a community development association, which is in conflict with the HSE, and the PAC wrote to Mr. O'Brien supporting the association's demand for funding, and that has also been referred to the Taoiseach. That association is uppermost in my mind today when I read this report and the small amount of money in respect of which it is in conflict with the HSE.

Focusing on the helpline funding, it increased from €250,000 to nearly €600,000 in 2013 to prevent the collapse of the national helpline, as set out in finding No. 52. The number of helplines reduced from six to two during that period at a cost of €346,000, of which the HSE provided nearly €300,000. In an earlier response to Deputy Cullinane, Mr. O'Brien said that he was happy with the service, but the issue of the helpline is highlighted. His statement indicates that particularly relating to the helpline, that sparked the internal audit based on concerns of the National Office for Suicide Prevention. I listened to his statement and also his response to the Deputy and it that not a contradiction in that Mr. O'Brien said that he was happy with the service yet the context that sparked the internal audit was the helpline, which he highlighted in his statement, where it says particularly relating to the helpline.