Ms Rosarii Mannion:

If there are learnings we will take them on board. There are many areas which do things better than we do and there are areas where we are stronger. Health is a complex environment and there is a scarcity of skills, with a global shortage at a lot of staff grades. I take the Deputy's point, however, and we are happy to examine local authorities, education or any area where they are doing things better.

The Deputy asked if all the posts were funded. Every year we have a pay and number process, setting out what we can afford to add to staffing and for agency and overtime conversion, which also includes what is new in the budget for development funding. It will also show where we expect to be by the end of the year. It is difficult but we are working away on our 2018 pay and numbers. For mental health, anything that is requested to be filled through NRS is funded.

In my view the issue for mental health is not funding. Mental health posts are funded. Indeed, additional development funding has been provided to facilitate the recruitment of the 110 assistant psychologists and other grades. It is not a funding issue in mental health.