Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the members of the deputation. I realise it comes across that we are trying to score points and so on but it is not about that. We are simply trying to get greater understanding. Many of us believe the system is broken and needs to be fixed. What we are trying to do is come up with avenues to get there. We need to work together in that regard.

The last speaker referred to frustration with the structure of the system. I believe that frustration is shared by all of us. Part of the difficulty is that we build a relationship with a person in a particular area and then the person is moved. Simple things like trying to get through by telephone or email can be difficult when the number or the email address changes and so on. These are simple things.

We seldom get cases where everything is going great. The members of the deputation know all of this. No one comes to our offices with a simple question. We get the problem cases or those who do not fit in and so on. At some stage I would like to hear more. The HSE representatives have referred to improved access to services, more consistent support of service users and so on. I would like to hear the more on this at some stage. I am unsure whether they will have time to elaborate today but that is one conversation we need to have. What improvements will materialise?

I imagine some simple things could be fixed. I will offer an example since examples are probably the best way to illustrate the point. I was dealing with a woman who has two teenage children in services. She has never got respite when the two teenagers were in at the same time. She can only get respite when one is in, so she does not really get any respite. Is something like that difficult to fix? I am unsure if the HSE representatives have ever come across something like that. It should not happen in that way. An appropriate remedy would transform the life of that woman. That is only one case.

Access to services is another area that needs attention. We come across children in need of speech and language therapy. One person was waiting three years for speech and language therapy and another three years for grommets. We are discussing the mental health of the child and parents. If a family is waiting that long for the services it has a major impact on the children. Are these children seen as a priority for the HSE? I am looking to hear from the HSE representatives today rather leaving on a sour note of them-and-us. Clearly the structure is not working at the moment and a new structure will be in place. What are the priorities of the HSE in the next 12 months? Can we bring back the deputation in 12 months' time – provided the committee still exists – to hear what has and has not worked? That would be helpful for us, especially for people at home who are watching. They are probably screaming at the television asking why we did not ask this or that question. People want to know. They hope the system will change for the better.