James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no question that we face challenges from a financial point of view. There will always be demand and we need to ensure that the way we are delivering care and services is done in an efficient manner. As is the case in other areas, sometimes social workers are being tasked with other work of a more clerical nature from which they could be freed in order to address the area in which they are skilled. We are examining that and the appropriateness of the roles to try to improve the situation from the point of view of the child.

Areas such as the historic legacy of legal issues are now being addressed by Mr. Gordon Jeyes. The bill will reduce considerably. One firm had not submitted a bill of almost €1 million for nearly four years. It is very difficult to predict with certainty where one is going when such situations arise. I thank Deputy Fleming for the opportunity today to send a message out today that we will have to consider, in consultation with the Attorney General, some other arrangement. We demand prompt payment by Government Departments, but there should equally be some onus on those presenting bills to do so in a reasonable and timely fashion. I do not consider the presentation of a bill four years late to be timely and reasonable.

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