Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Let us consider a situation whereby somebody with a disability is in a public nursing home and has no contact with anyone except employees of the Health Service Executive who are the only people who might make an application on their behalf. How do we ensure that they do not fall through the system? I appreciate why it is not compulsory, however people could lose out. The HSE employee is not obliged to apply on a person's behalf. He or she might be the most vulnerable person and most in need of assessment but could be left out. I am especially referring to people in receipt of a health service from the HSE.