Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has raised some good points. I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, about encouraging people from outside the EU to come and work in these areas. We are looking at that with regard to home care as well. Everybody knows there is a shortage in the workforce. The Minister of State has been speaking to the Minister for Health about funding to buy private capacity. That capacity was bought in for assessments of need 12 months ago and it reduced that waiting list significantly. A lot of the children were then placed on further waiting lists as a result but the assessment of need was done. Primary legislation will be required in order to access the NTPF for psychiatry and psychology services. I had a meeting about this yesterday. It is quite complicated. If someone is referred for a cataract or hip operation, it is a once-off procedure but for children with psychology, psychiatry or therapy needs who require multiple sessions, it is a lot more complicated. We are looking at it.

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