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

I have a follow-up question. Ms Clarke referred to the need for an integration of services, which is something that applies across a number of sectors, not just for older people but right across mental health provision. Any group or cohort needs an integrated service. We see it in disability services, where there is the involvement of families and so on. Time and again, when I ask why a programme has not been done or who to ask about following up on something, I am directed back to the HSE as the core and primary source as to why a particular amount of money is or is not being spent or how it is being spent. When it comes to a full integration of services for older people, it is not just about health. We have discussed housing and I might talk about day centres presently. Is this kind of centralisation of funding, whereby every question on mental health provision goes back to the HSE, useful for integration? Is it possible, say, that some funding could come through Pobal or community groups in a more dispersed way? Is the centralisation of funding resources for mental health through the HSE working for us?