Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The question was about the number of Ministers of State. This Government believes it should get a more effective response with a much smaller number of Ministers of State, who will have to do more work. The work being carried out by the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, in the mental health and older people areas is complementary to that of the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, where it impacts on the lives of children. This is a case where we must get it right.

The responsibilities allocated to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will be connected very directly to the work of the Ministers of State who deals with community, drugs, mental health and other areas affecting young people and will build a sense of community response from the Departments of Health and Education and Skills or Departments affecting children and young people.

One can argue about this until the cows come home but we made a conscious decision to reduce the number of Ministers of State to get more from less and to build a delivery of public service for all these people in a leaner, more efficient and more professional way. That is why, at Cabinet level, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will work with her colleagues in the Departments of Education and Skills, Health and Justice, Equality and Defence and with the Ministers of State with direct responsibility.

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