Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for all they do and for attending this meeting.

On her final point, is Dr. McCarthy is really stating that if one cannot quantify the need in the community or the work that is being done, one cannot put a value on it and, as a result, it cannot be budgeted for and that bedding it into the base is a cost?

In terms of respect, it is disappointing to hear that there is a gap between organisations such as those represented here and the medical professions. I have used the services of Epilepsy Ireland in my professional life in the context of people with new diagnoses. There is always a void if someone, especially a young person, receives a diagnosis of epilepsy and needs support. Epilepsy Ireland is the only organisation to which to refer people. There is no one else to call. The value of that support for an individual or a family who have never dealt with such a condition cannot be underestimated, particularly, as Ms Jones noted, in the context of working through the process as the person gets older and the changes in his or her life become more significant. It is very concerning that there is very little value placed on or respect for this support.

In terms of Sláintecare, would I be correct in stating that this is a contract-and-service based approach and that one would nearly be afraid it would be whittled down into a monetary contract and that the years of work, the years of relationships and the natural networks that have been built up would not be taken into consideration? In other words, it would almost become an inanimate figure rather than comprising an evaluation and a qualitative analysis of all that our guests' organisations bring to the table. I am concerned about whether, if it becomes a contractual, box-ticking, deadline-meeting exercise, that the core value of the voluntary bodies represented here will be destroyed.

Reference was made to sodium valproate. Epilepsy Ireland, along with its international counterparts, has done significant work to help the people who need this drug but also to bring information on it to the attention of the medical professions and this committee. It has done significant work in informing us and I do not know where we would have gone if it had not been for Epilepsy Ireland. It also contributed greatly when we were considering the medicinal cannabis legislation and, as a professional body, had huge value to add in that regard. This committee knows the value of Epilepsy Ireland and has respect for it. We have benefited from its expertise.

I was not exactly sure what Dr. McCarthy was saying when she stated that 10% of what is budgeted for could through community services?