Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will go back to the idea of integrated care and placing it within our communities in order that it is normalised and not stigmatised. The creeping professionalisation of specialisms has taken place in the past 25 years and it serves the professional rather than the people. People cannot see beyond their own silo. There is hope in that the Health Service Executive agreed recently to a dual diagnosis programme. I know it is for adults but it is to treat mental health and substance abuse issues together. It is a no-brainer. It is very sexy to be seen as a specialist in something when we need to be able to take a child and look at every aspect. We should be able to look at the psychology of the case and determine the approach that is needed. It is important to get away from the professionalisation of each different strand of what we need in our community.