Mr. Mark Smyth:

My understanding is there is no obligation to continue in the public service as there are plenty of jobs. There are not enough graduates coming through. In my experience many stay and continue to work in the HSE. We have a limited pool. As I mentioned in my submission, it is estimated that more than 300 are needed in mental health alone. This does not take into account the Prison Service, the Higher Education Authority or Tusla. As well as this there are not enough people in private practice. People cannot ring someone to get an appointment privately because it is the same pool of people. There are terms and conditions for this but the counselling and educational trainee psychologists are not employees. They have no rights, they get no pay and they pay €40,000 for a three-year course. When they are asked whether they want to work for a system that has asked them to work for free for three years and pay €40,000 for the privilege, many will choose not to and, to be honest, we cannot really blame them.