Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

I understand the point made by the Minister of State in terms of looking at the role rather than the individual. However, if I were drawing up an assessment, I would be somewhat reluctant to draw up a service statement at the same time. It would be difficult to remove one hat and assume another in an area which will be resource-led, because the assessment will be independent of resources.

What qualification will liaison officers have? Will they have all the necessary multidisciplinary backup needed to make a judgment? If one is dissecting an assessment, and bringing it into a service statement of needs, one would want to be well informed in all aspects in order to decide what a service statement should be and what form it should take. Could the liaison officer be a speech therapist, for example, with all the necessary support behind that person in terms of occupational physiotherapy or whatever the requirements might be in order to produce a proper service statement?