Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is perhaps being just a little unfair in his comments on the response. The report is very useful and important and I agree with the Deputy in that regard. I indicated to the House earlier that a number of the recommendations were already under consideration by the national development committee, which has undertaken to examine all the recommendations. The report was published three days ago and perhaps it would behove all of us to take a little time to consider the various recommendations.

Nobody can disagree with the general thrust of the Deputy's comments on the importance of maintaining - and, if possible, increasing and enhancing - the level of funding and support, ensuring that services are standardised nationwide. That is one of the issues coming from the report. There are other recommendations which are extremely important and close attention will be paid to them. I have no doubt that the Department and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, will follow through. It is an important addition to the stock of knowledge, information and expertise available in this important area.

I assert again that the Government, the Department of Health and the Minister, in particular, have made every effort to maintain an adequate level of funding for this important area at a time of extremely difficult financial constraint. That has borne fruit.

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