Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is not a personal attack but it is nice to know where one stands at the start. We have had comments from the Minister before that money will not be a problem when it comes to staffing. There is a lack of communication. Surely if there is a waiting list of more than 2,300 people, the board can go back to the Minister - not a Department, because it will get lost - and make a direct appeal for additional funding. It could say it knows that the current budget will not be enough but that more than 2,300 children have certain needs. It knows how much it will cost to meet these needs and could ask that the additional funding be ring-fenced for this purpose. I am realistic about this because I know the services are squeezed to death. At least there would be forward planning, money would be ring-fenced and the problem would be boxed in, which would allow the witnesses to look at breaking down some other system. Is that possible in the future with this new forum and set-up?