Mr. Ben Ryan:

No, we are conscious of what the citizens’ assembly recommended, although it is not yet Government policy. The health diversion scheme goes in the exact same direction as the assembly’s recommendation, although it does not go as far. As Ms McArdle mentioned, we will evaluate the scheme after 12 months. This committee will deliberate and produce its report and recommendations, which will be considered by the Government. In the meantime, we will have been working on and evaluating the scheme and we will know its impact. If it is working well, there will be evidence for us to say, “Let us expand it”.