Ms Laura Magahy:

I might kick off, if that is okay. On the disability assessment of need, there were a huge number of people waiting for it. I am very familiar with this matter because we were able to forward €8.7 million to clear those backlogs just three weeks ago. We are awaiting details from each of the CHOs around the country on how they are going to clear those backlogs in a matter of months. That funding is there for them to take up. It is a significant amount of funding which is supposed to clear that whole backlog. That is very good and means there will be a new disability network manager system where children will be referred in to get treatment directly in the disability networks. Those people are now in place and they will be able to do their work with a clean sheet and without a backlog of people waiting. That is very positive.

I know time is short and I just wanted to say how much we welcome the opportunity to meet everybody. The ongoing support of the committee is important to us, and I would have made the same point to the previous committee's Chairman. We see Sláintecare as neutral territory which everybody has signed up to and wants to happen. We are trying to steer that along and make sure it happens but it is important to us that we have the support of all Members of both Houses. We appreciate the opportunity to come and talk to the committee whenever it wants and we can provide any updates it wants. My phone line is open so I ask the committee to please get in contact if it needs any details. We appreciate and need the committee's support.