Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Hayes is very welcome to the committee and I certainly agree with everything my colleague has said about our endorsement of his nomination for the role. It is not technically required but if somebody gave a bad account before us, he or she would probably be on a road to failure. We do not have official status to accept or reject the nomination but Mr. Hayes has made a very good case. He certainly fulfils all the requirements. It is very welcome that he has personal experience.

I place on record my thanks to Mr. Eamon Stack, although I only had a few interactions with him. I have not seen the chairman of a board of any organisation that would have a handle on the level of detail that he had on the various matters within the NCSE. He met me and my party leader on occasion to discuss major changes happening at the NCSE. Notwithstanding his background in education, I was very impressed to see a chairman doing that and getting involved with executives in an organisation. It was very useful and helpful.

I have no doubt that Mr. Hayes recognises that there are many parents with negative experiences dealing with the State. In general, I have very strong praise for the NCSE and my interactions with the council are extremely positive. One area where the system fails - I am not blaming the NCSE in particular - is when support is refused, not given or only partial support is given. I find parents are usually very disappointed and they feel let down. There does not seem to be a way for them to channel it, get reasons or to have some kind of interaction relating to a refusal of support or allowance of support they do not deem sufficient. Often the communication on the ground is not fantastic in those circumstances. I urge the witness to consider that.

Again, I generally have nothing but praise for the NCSE. It is effectively an independent organisation. I offer a word of caution, as Mr. Hayes has come from officialdom. Now he is on the other side of the fence as chairman of a State board so he must battle with some of the officials he may know personally. I strongly urge him to do it and I know he will. It will be a different perspective to his fight for resources and to implement some of the ideas that have been put forward by the NCSE. I have highlighted the need for nursing supports for complex medical needs. The NCSE has highlighted it and I have followed up but nothing has happened. It is important there would be a battle with officialdom to ensure it happens. I say that with all due respect to officials, who all do a particular job. Mr. Hayes is on the other side of the fence, to some extent.