Dr. Rosie Gowran:

On that point, under the roadmap there is a number of working groups in train at present.

We are reviewing the national access policy and the joint protocol in respect of its implementation to see how well that is working. That is currently in train.

I acknowledge what the Deputy said on the challenges. The HSE is very aware of that and it is trying to put many things in place to address some of those issues. All we can do is apologise to the people who are waiting. It is very challenging. However, a number of good things are happening within the system. When people access the services, they get a really good service. As the Deputy acknowledged, the people who work in the service are doing a great job. We recognise that they need support. We are looking at clinical governance and supervision to support staff as well. We are looking at that and leading on it within the national clinical programme for people with disability, working closely with access and integration and the disability services. We recognise the crisis. It is hard to say that nothing is being done. Lots is being done to try to address it. When there is a challenge to fill posts within the system, it is difficult to deliver services when there are not people in posts. However, there is much work happening on recruitment and retention. It is not making excuses but it is trying to support that development and find ways to address the waiting lists and to support people when they need to access services. We are all following the same goal, which is to support people, particularly children, to access services and get the intervention they need, not just the assessment.