Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I thank all the witnesses for coming in. The discussion has been very helpful. This is a very important committee. Many people have different perceptions of this area but we are learning increasingly more from the evidence that is coming through and that will help inform the document we will produce at the end of this process. What is very clear from all the people who have presented in recent months is the level of commitment that exists to help people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. There is no question about that existing at every level.

I have an observation and a number of questions. I welcome the area lead on mental health engagement.

Will the mental health youth lead be appointed? If so, when? What will the remit be? I am very interested in the area of youth mental health. We talked about A Vision for Change but social media have suddenly appeared on the horizon and have become a significant issue in a very short space of time. This was not really addressed in A Vision for Change and I perceive the role of the youth mental health lead to be important in this regard. Art therapy has potential for young people. Would this be considered as part of the remit of the youth mental health lead?

Reference was made to the challenges associated with agency staff and to how the costs were not reflected in A Vision for Change. Roughly how much is being paid out at any one time for agency staff?

A point was made on the lack of primary care centres. Mr. Bennett noted their slow development is preventing the delivery of the kinds of services they want to provide. Linked to this is the number of nurses listed, which stands at 510. How many of these are suicide crisis assessment nurses? Are they linking in through the general practitioners and primary care centres? How is this achieved?

My next point is on the capital requirements. Along with facing primary care centre difficulties, do the representatives face difficulties regarding the provision of specific houses that people might require, depending on their mental health care needs? They may not be able to function on their own. Is planning an issue where there is a desire to put in a particular facility? Are there objections on the part of locals who may not understand what the witnesses are trying to achieve?

My next question is on an issue that is somewhat specific but has come across my desk recently. It concerns the psychological disorder Prader-Willi syndrome. It is not very prevalent in the population. Are the education and medical systems tuned in sufficiently regarding this disorder? There is a difficulty in accessing services because the disorder may be considered more physical than psychological. Perhaps there is more emphasis on the physical.