Mr. Andy O'Hara:

We need to commit and there needs to be a mandate to build the infrastructure. If you want to listen to people, it takes an infrastructure. It takes a structured approach. There are quotes here from participants about why they do not make complaints or why they do not have a voice. They say things like none, no impact, nothing happens, still homeless, still in the same situation, none because they do not follow up on them. They say things like "I feel like I am living late today, and I want to give up." There is more drug use and more mental health, more trauma from being let down. One of them said that their mental health is not good, and they are just sent from pillar to post. They have lost hope for themselves and their kids. They are young and see no future. They are trying to get a care plan for six months as they need one to see the counsellor.

It is important we have a framework to listen to those people so they can tell us where the gaps are so we can create the solutions. There is another quote from our annual report, which is based around all the clear work that is happening. This person says that they think it is very important to give people who would never have a chance, a chance at getting their life back. When you are a person who uses drugs, or want to come off drugs, or are off drugs and are about 40, there is nothing out there for them. They say they want to give back and it is their aim to give back because they took so much from the town. Society has to be aware that people who use drugs are often not living their lives. They are surviving. Every day they are fighting to survive. With places like Uisce a lot more people would speak out about where the barriers are in the system and services. They would know what is out there for people and they could be pointed in the right direction.

It is about what happens when we do not listen to people, and when we do listen to people. It is about having that framework.