Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the right front door, it is called the national access policy, NAP. This is a HSE policy document. Under the leadership of Bernard Gloster I have seen huge improvements in communication between primary healthcare, CAMHS, acute services and disability services. They are talking to one other and not working in silos. Granted, there are variances across the country. Some are working really well and others could do with improvement. That policy is being rolled out. It is totally understood at a senior level and it is filtering all the way down.

Regarding recruitment and attraction, I agree. I spoke earlier today about the excellent programme in social care that was launched in Cork in the past month with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. We have seen some 30 students take places on the apprenticeship programme. I would really like to see that stepped up now to occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. Students can earn and learn as part of a pathway through education that also provides the proper clinical governance. It is a way of attracting and retaining people.

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