Mr. Bernard O'Regan:

I will try to answer some of the Deputy's questions. Ms O'Neill or Professor MacLachlan might pick up on any I cannot address.

We are very conscious of the geographical differences both in terms of the service experience for children and families and also in terms of the staffing levels that are available in the CDNTs in the different CHOs. In deploying the additional resources that are allocated to us this year, we have done so on the basis of an analysis of the staffing levels within the teams, the ratio of children being supported and also taking cognisance of other factors in particular CHOs. For example, any indices that may help us in terms of determining need, levels of disability and so on are being factored in. We will become more sophisticated in doing that over the next few years but it was all part of the process this year. We have weighted the allocation of posts to those CHOs and those disability network teams that are further behind in terms of the ratios of supports of staff to children, to try to raise the levels of staffing and consistency in order to address some of the geographical gaps.

In terms of training courses, there have been some experiences of this. I want to be clear, on behalf of the HSE, that it is not the case that training courses should be used as an alternative to appropriate therapies and interventions. There are circumstances where providing training to parents and families can be complementary to the provision of direct services, but not as an alternative to them. Where that is happening or where families are being told that they are at risk of being taken off waiting lists, that is not the HSE policy. Where it does happen, we will raise it with the CHOs or with the service concerned to make sure it does not happen. To my knowledge, no child has been removed from a waiting list because a parent did not attend a training course. I will, however, come back to the committee and confirm that.