Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a consensus that there should be a national entity - call it the HSE or something else. The current entity is too big and too bureaucratic. I am of the view that more functions should be devolved to the regions. Whether I am considered a reforming Minister is a matter for historians to assess many years from now, but the benefit of this plan is that we all agree that this is the structure which must be put in place. This will enable me, as a Minister in a minority Government, and my successors to plough on with that objective. I will endeavour to get the HSE board legislation passed this year. I am of the opinion that we will be successful in getting that done. Let us also try to move forward, on a cross-party basis, with providing a regional accountability structure as well.

The Minister of State has done a lot of work on duplication and I am sure he will comment on that when he returns. The answer has to be what he has championed and what the Members will regularly raise at meetings of this committee, namely, signposting, mapping out the services and directing resources to the appropriate destinations. In addition, we must ensure that members of the public know where to go. On far too many occasions, people with mental health challenges have approached me at my constituency office. I am not suggesting that everything to do with the services was wonderful. However, there were services available that these individuals did not even know how to access. This underlines the need for signposting.

I have commented on the recruitment process a number of times. I take the point that was made.

The programme relating to assistant psychologists is new. This is the first full year of the programme. I very much take on board the suggestion made by Senator McFadden in that regard. The Minister of State will respond to the remainder of the questions.