Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of staffing has arisen at a number of our meetings here. I notice that the CAMHS team has 60% of the recommended staff members. For another of the teams mentioned, the figure is 70%. Is this attributable to the population increase or qualified staff leaving? Alternatively, is it attributable to the fact that we are not directing enough young people who are making decisions on careers into the very valuable and important career in question? Do we need to be considering this? Is it a combination of everything, such that we should be considering connecting with the education system and career guidance teams, suggesting the various levels? Is that part of it? It must be so frustrating to be bringing in agency staff continually when one would much prefer to have full-time staff and make better use of the funding.