Mr. Bernard O'Regan:

I will come back to the Deputy tomorrow with a contact for CHO 5. I will make a few comments. I appreciate the Deputy's acknowledgement of the positive work being done. While we have significant challenges in terms of assessment of need, service provision and building capacity and services, there are many positive developments. I appreciate the Deputy's comments about the services in the Delta Centre and other providers and the positive developments happening in those.

The communication issue is one on which we would concur with the Deputy. We know we are not getting that right, not only at a national level in terms of communicating what it is that we are trying to do and keeping people informed, but also how families at an individual level are experiencing it. It clearly is not working in the way that it should be. We have established a small group made up of a number of key people, including families. We are working to develop and improve communication generally and we will seek to put in place some measures in the coming months that will significantly improve it. That will not achieve it all but it is important to acknowledge we see the importance of it and are working on it.

The Deputy correctly stated many of the issues facing disabled people are cross-Government matters. There are issues for which the HSE is responsible and for which the Department of Health is responsible. As the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth takes on responsibility for disability services, post transfer its role will further enhance and increase. Issues such as transport and housing are roles for other Departments. As the disability action plan, which is currently worked on, progresses, it will increasingly seek to take a whole-of-government approach and not only segment the areas of responsibility into individual Departments, albeit they will have their role and responsibility also.