Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad of an opportunity to discuss these very important issues with the witnesses today. I seem to straddle two or three different areas. As my colleague, Deputy Tony McLoughlin, has adequately asked questions related to County Leitrim, I will raise issues related to County Roscommon. I understand that the witnesses do a very difficult job. It is an emotive and complex situation for the workers, the service provider and the service users. Not everyone could equip themselves to work in the sector.

I am all for saving money. Anybody who works in the public sector should be lauded for their work. Sometimes when people in the public sector see a pot of money, they decide to spend it. I like to see various Departments consider the funding that they have received and utilise it across the system. The three-year rolling budget is more beneficial and definitely helps the witnesses to conduct their work in every department. Unfortunately, the recent history of the mental health service in the county has led to a damning report being published last September. The report showed that the HSE prioritised cost-cutting over meeting the needs of valuable service users.

The 44-page report was truly a damning indictment of how mental health services are run in the county and it was highly critical of the leadership at all levels within the HSE. The report was carried out by three senior experts from the Northern Ireland health care sector. Almost €18 million in funding between 2012 to 2014 was returned by Roscommon-Galway HSE. Was damage done? I understand this is what makes headlines but are there any positive aspects? Is there anything the witnesses feel the report did not cover? Are there reasons for the return of this €18 million in funding? Was it returned to some other area where it was used to positive effect? I seek an answer to that question.