Ms Vickie Kirkpatrick:

I will attempt to answer that. I am here today representing the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists but I am also a clinician in the field. Historically, many promises were made regarding the implementation of the HSE's progressing disability services plan. My experience tells me that these issues will be resolved when we progress. In terms of disability services waiting lists, there are 1,700 people waiting for assessments of need in Cork and Kerry but there was a reluctance to hire people because the proposed restructuring of the health service meant that the HSE did not know where they would be located. As a result, nothing happened and we are at a standstill.

While the progressing disability services plan is not perfect, it is at least a step into the 21st century for Ireland but it will require funding. It is not just a question of funding posts but also of developing strategies to implement enormous change for staff in section 38 and section 39 organisations as well as the HSE in order that they can work collaboratively. We need funding to build teams and to make sure they are properly co-located. In some ways, the project almost seems too big. The process of resolving these problems is at an impasse.