Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am also concerned with working towards a national view. We need a national view. What exactly does Ms O'Connor mean when she says the HSE is working towards the national view? It worries me that the witnesses are saying that services within schools are a matter for the Department of Education and Skills because there is a huge problem with the lack of joined-up thinking. There is a need for Departments to communicate and link up with each other. One cannot say that the issue of children suffering with mental health issues belongs in one box, which is the Department of Education and Skills, and that the HSE can take a hands-off approach. It is not acceptable. The HSE must take responsibility for it.