Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to be brief because a few of the questions have been asked. I thank Dr. Banks, Ms McDonagh, Dr. Travers and Ms Byrne for coming in. Ms Byrne's contribution was very appropriate. She had to fight to go to Maynooth University but her fight did not just give her direction, but also gave many other people direction. It was significant. I thank her. My colleague said it is not about luck. You make your own luck. It is great to see that the witnesses are ambitious. I thank them.

I wish to ask one question. I was disappointed that when the Department was implementing the new model, the level of consultation has maybe not been as good. We are anxious here and it is disappointing to hear that because we as a committee want to urge that there be much more consultation.

Regarding discussing how health and education need to work better together, the protocols in place to work together, and what key measures are needed to ensure the accuracy and consistency of data provided by the local HSE teams working with children with complex needs, I saw myself when I served in the Department of Health that many Departments work in their own silos and are very busy. Since Covid, with Microsoft Teams and so on, there are many more opportunities for Departments to liaise and work together. I would love to hear the witnesses' views on that.