Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is encouraging that the Minister referred to recruitment and retention, because we all know and we all feel it from our constituents. We all know the massive impact the lack of resources is having on children's lives and those of their parents, brothers and sisters. That improving the relationship between the HSE and parents is one of the Minister's key priorities has to be massively welcomed.

We all know recruitment and retention is a considerable issue. There does not seem to be a silver bullet to resolve it and that is the reality. I would be very much interested to hear about the plans. It may be too early with regard to the transfer of powers but what plans are in place to ramp up recruitment and encourage retention? They go hand in hand because the bigger the team is, the less pressure there is on the individual. Unfortunately, therapists are burnt out because of a lack of resourcing.

I welcome the new strategy and reiterate the point that the strategy is only as good as the activity on the ground in agencies and Departments and the result that has on families' lives and experiences. I wish the Minister the very best of luck. The transfer of the €2.5 billion budget is a huge project. Much resourcing and many issues, plans, strategies and responsibilities come with that. We can clearly see we have an advocate in the Minister of disability and families will be encouraged by that; I certainly am. I am excited to see where we will be in a year after the transfer has happened and some of the action plans are put in place. I hope by then we will be in a different space with regard to the optional protocol.