Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with the Senator. As he knows, while the Minister of State cannot be physically based in every Department, he is assigned to three. That is an initial reflection of the reality whereby there is a health need. However, that need often arises in areas in which it was not met earlier. It may not have been met as early as preschool, at an early intervention stage or it could be a matter of enabling an older person with a disability to get the bus so he or she can retain his or her independence. It could also be a case of someone getting a job. Without getting into too much detail, it is obviously a whole-of-Government issue. The purpose of the national disability strategy is to have a document that covers different Departments, areas of Government and society in general; it is not just the job of a Minister or Minister of State in the Department of Health.