Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputies. One of the interesting lines I took from what Deputy Connolly alluded to as Civil Service-speak is that, "The counsellors that deliver the service are fully accredited and suitably qualified to work with adolescents". For me, that is one of the more important lines. Obviously, before I make any commitment, either here or anywhere else, I have a responsibility to see that this is there. Given it is there in written form, I take comfort from that.

Deputy Rabbitte is right that this is not just 800 people but 800 families. It has a very significant impact on people, their well-being and the cohesiveness of communities to have families functioning well. Of course, we have to invest. As all speakers have said, these are people who walk in, put their hand up and say, "I need help". If we as a State are going to let them down and not react to their needs, then we are all at nothing here. While I cannot give a commitment right here and now, I will give the Deputies a commitment to take this on myself and to have a look at it. I will come back to the three Deputies within a week and will meet them within a week, and I will have some progress made on this issue within that week.

I am not aware the service has made any funding application to the HSE under section 39 or the lottery funding, which are the two avenues whereby it can apply to the HSE. Before next week, the Deputies might ascertain from the service whether it has applied to the HSE under section 39 or the lottery funding. I appreciate what the Deputies have said about the amount of money in the greater scheme of things. It is a critical service. I give my commitment to address this issue personally within a week and to come back to the three Deputies within a week. That is what we are here for, namely, to try to solve these issues.

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