Mr. Tony O'Brien:

I understand the concern about section 39 organisations, but that is a separate and distinct issue which is related to a policy position. The Minister has outlined what is being done in that regard. All I can do is reiterate that there is a workforce planning process that has been elaborated on. There is an annual, funded workforce planning process. There is a a live discussion between the Department and the HSE to seek to provide for an appropriate balance. I am also aware that this issue was raised with Ms Rosarii Mannion when she was before the committee last week to discuss the section 39 organisations issue and that she agreed to engage with the Senator on it. I propose that she continue to do so.

On the issue of specialist registration, what is happening is that in each location where a person is employed in a consultant post and who is not on the relevant specialist register, his or her individual clinical director is carrying out a review to establish what issues arise to provide us with a full picture of what we do or do not need to do. When the review is completed, the relevant action will be taken.

On issues to do with neuro-rehabilitation, Comhlista and the 100 private beds, I will ask Mr. Connaghan and his team to respond.

On the issue of text message validations, I understand text messages are used only in relation to specific individual appointments, rather than in relation to validation lists. They would not result in a person being taken off a list. Failure to respond to a text message might, however, result in the individual appointment being reallocated to ensure it was not lost to the system. That is the standard process.