Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise that when the meeting started I was in the Dáil speaking on the Health (Amendment) Bill and that is why I was late joining the meeting. I welcome the witnesses. I read their introductory presentations which are very coherent and set out some of the issues. I want to begin with neurology as it is close to my heart in Galway where we have a shortfall of nine neurology nurses. There is a campaign at the moment to try and get them in place. It is frustrating that the strategy has not been implemented, and year 3 of it is running out now. I would like the witnesses' insight into why it has not been implemented. Is it due to lack of political will? Is it lack of resources or drive from within the HSE or where? Where can we start pushing to ensure it happens? Listening to the webinar on Monday, there were two witnesses who presented their own personal stories. They were powerful. It is sad that it is necessary for people who have an acquired illness to bare their souls to try and get something going. We want the strategy implemented. My view of strategies and plans is that they are only great on paper if they are not implemented. Why has this strategy not been implemented? Is the problem with funding, the will to implement it, or is the infrastructure not there to do it?