Dr. Brian Osborne:

The Deputy asked a question about the percentage of practices that might have counsellors on site. We do not have exact figures but it would be roughly in the order of around 15% to 20%. However, that would be in more affluent areas. In areas of deprivation and in more rural areas, counsellors would not be available. Again, it goes back to the ability to pay. Regarding referral, there is no need for a psychiatrist to see someone with a mild to moderate mental health illness in the vast majority of cases. At present we have counselling in primary care, CIPC, but not all the population is eligible for this and there are long waiting lists.