David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Part of the problem was that there was announcement after announcement by the Minister in particular that a scheme would be put in place. That raised people's expectations that a scheme that was going to work would be available. However, as we know, the scheme failed. Is it not the case that the expectations of front-line workers were raised? Dr. Lynch stated that his staff put significant time and energy into devising the scheme and other required supports. I do not doubt that for a second.

The people who were most frustrated and challenged were front-line healthcare workers, particularly those in households with two members working on the front line. Those workers feel let down. The committee heard from their representative groups this morning. Does Dr. Lynch accept that those workers were let down, their expectations having been repeatedly raised? They waited four weeks for the plan to be announced, but when it was announced, it did not work. Notwithstanding what he stated regarding the effort put in by departmental staff, does he accept that those workers were let down by the Department because the scheme took so long to be put in place and then failed, and that their expectations may have been raised unnecessarily?