Ms Mary O'Dowd:

Public health nurses have been central to the primary care teams since the roll-out of the programme in 2001. There are good examples where it is working really well. I know it is a work in progress; some work has been done, but there is a lot more to be done. Mr. Hennessy referred to some examples of nurse-led services, with clients being able to access oncology services at home.

Deputies Catherine Byrne and Regina Doherty referred to the relationship with the public health nurse. That is a piece of magic which one cannot write in policy. It takes investment in the way the relationship evolves. The critical question concerns the new agency. We must be creative. The institute is quite interested in working with the HSE and the agency to see how best we can deliver child health services. We are not included in phase 1. We can argue why we are not a priority because it was recommended by the task force that we be a priority. We are here to familiarise ourselves with the current issues. We must go back to the drawing board and see how best we can deliver child health services. It may be a mix and match that will link people between the agency and primary care services. The debate needs to start on what will happen next. My fear is that because we are not included in phase 1, the debate on child health services will be delayed again.