Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

Resources are an issue. There are problems because of the demands of the services when it comes to the base funding available for child and family services within the HSE. The question of priority must be addressed and better management and better inter-agency work. Quite a number of areas need to be addressed to answer the Deputy's question about resources.

Ten additional after-care workers were recruited and this should help. Money has been given to EPIC, the group working with young people who have been in after-care. The HSE must assess priority and proper assessment of the needs of these young people will have be carried out. This will demand some form of prioritisation.

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