Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that we need to focus on the requirements and needs of the child. There has been no clear pathway up until now. We have had a disjointed pathway. I hope we will start to see a new process as part of the reconfiguration of services. These issues will not be resolved without co-operation between the Departments of Health, Education and Skills and Children and Youth Affairs. Obviously, resources are being reconfigured.

As I have mentioned, we have started to see improvements in the 76 teams, of the total of 129 teams, which have already been reconfigured. That process needs to be hastened so that improvements are made as quickly as possible. We know that the earlier we identify the needs of a child or young person, the easier it is to fulfil that process. That requires staff, teams and the filling of posts. That needs to be a priority. As I have said, vacancies have been filled in Deputy Kenny's area of Dublin Mid-West. However, there are still many such vacancies throughout the country. This needs to be a priority. I will take the Deputy's remarks back to the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. I am sure he will outline in due course where he intends to spend his additional funding within the service plan.

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