Ms Fiona Coyle:

I might ask Dr. Keogh to contribute on the second question. I understand Mental Health Ireland has a partnership with the IFA in this regard. With regard to e-mental health, before the pandemic Ireland, it is fair to say, was not as advanced as some of its European counterparts in utilising online technology for various reasons such as that the broadband structure needed to be strengthened. Overnight we saw a move from face-to-face to online technology. There is no going back. These technologies are great and perhaps allow us access a larger number of service users but they are not suitable for everyone. Not everyone has the hardware or technology to log in. I have been acutely aware of how expensive video calls are. They eat up data. Many people are in the privileged position of having a contract with unlimited data but for others on pay-as-you-go it can be quite a significant cost. In our pre-budget submission we have asked for funding, particularly for the community and voluntary sector. Overnight these organisations changed their services and they are developing new models of care. We have asked that funding be set aside to support this work in the years to come.