Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Pat Buckley and John Brassil.

On HSE management, I have confidence in the people who run the health service. We are advertising to fill a number of new senior posts in it. I do not, however, have confidence in the structures, which is why I am trying to change them to enable staff, including some very good individuals, to do the job they want to do. It is often a better job. The structures have become overly complicated and bureaucratic. I will follow up directly on the issues raised in respect of Cashel Hospital and the Mahon health centre.

On recruitment, without going into it too much as the question has been asked a few times, 2,000 new posts have been approved since 2012 in the mental health service. According to my note, we have filled about 1,352 of them. Therefore, posts are being funded and filled. However, many are not being filled and that poses a number of questions for us. There are a number of elements, which brings me to Deputy John Brassil's questions. We have an issue with the process used. I have heard the committee very clearly in that regard.

We are advertising for a new chair of the HSE board. It will be a chairperson designate until we pass the legislation, but he or she will be appointed shortly. One of the first things I will ask him or her to do is to review and report back to me directly on the recruitment processes within the HSE and how we can streamline them. Members are giving me constructive suggestions and I want to respond in kind.

I take Deputy John Brassil's point about pharmacies. I will be sitting down with the representatives of the pharmacy sector and pharmacists in the not too distant future to discuss a range of contractual matters. I will welcome their suggestions. It is always an interesting point - I say this respectfully - that everyone in the health service is extremely busy, which I do not doubt. I refer to trying to take work from one section and giving it to another. We saw this recently in the discussion about contraception. I thought it became ridiculous when one group said they were too busy and could not take on any more work. Another said they would take on the work, but then the first group said they could not do so because they had to do it. We need to break down that silo mentality and have the appropriate healthcare professionals providing the appropriate service at the right time.

Recruitment of people at home is key. As a Government, we have been discussing this issue for a period of time. As we reach full employment as we, thankfully, almost have statistically, there is no doubt that there are people who for a variety of reasons cannot work full time. Often they have worked in a professional field in the past, or they would like to train up and work, but they will never be able or wish to work full time, which is fine. Providing them with opportunities to do so brings us back to the telepsychiatry space because there would be no need for long commutes, etc. It also points out to us, as a Government, that their activation will be about more than just pay. It will also be about childcare and other supports.

Whether this committee should continue is a matter for the Oireachtas, but I think it should. The Joint Committee on Health is extraordinarily busy. Sometimes it is useful to have a committee that can look a little further down the road. The clue is in the title.