Ms Anne O'Connor:

On the critical outlay, every year when development funding is allocated, there is a proposal that goes to the Department of Health. We decide what the priorities and work with the Department on them. The Minister of State at the time was involved in the discussion and we received approval from the Department to proceed with our initiatives.

On development funding, we have invested in clinical programmes. When we receive approval in a year it is often for the recruitment of staff, but we do not recruit within that timeframe because the process takes longer to complete. We receive approval from the Department to use the money to improve infrastructure while we recruit in order that the money does not move out of the mental health service. The allows us to keep the money within the area.