Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. One of the ways of tackling waiting lists is to widen the spectrum of disciplines. We need to examine how we bring trainees through the system and make available an appropriate number of placements to ensure we do not lose anybody in any of the professions.

I know this from my previous profession. It is always difficult for anyone who is doing placements that require professional in-place training to keep his or her hand in and people need State support to continue up the ladder.