Ms Magdalen Rogers:

Again, I thank the committee for its support, not for the first time. The committee has had hearings with us over the last three years on these issues and it has always been very supportive. To summarise the asks for today, one immediate ask is to enable the funds that have been committed to neurology and neurorehabilitation services, whatever the reason for the delay. We have heard about recruitment moratoriums and other delays. It is about bringing it back to the patients and the people involved that once that commitment has been delivered - it will be a very positive legacy when it has been delivered - this will translate into services on the ground. The committee will contribute whatever understanding or action it can on that issue to find out why there are those blockages, so that when funds have been committed we will see those services delivered on the ground where they are needed. We welcome the support of the committee to write to the HSE for an action plan on the specific issue of inpatient neurorehabilitation beds because that is an area of the strategy where we are disappointed in the progress made to date. We certainly feel there is a need for a specific action there. Then we have a specific ask for the forthcoming budget that there would be action on the issue raised by Deputy Durkan, that is, the regional inequity. It should not matter where you live in the country in terms of your access to neurology services. We heard a very telling example of that from Deputy Conway-Walsh today. We also ask for investment in the budget for that regional inequity, regional neurology services and also the remaining community neurorehabilitation teams.