Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I am pleased the Minister of State has confirmed that much or all the delay is due to a lack of resources. At least it is a problem we can identify and to which we can hopefully respond. I am at one with the Minister of State on what he said about the very effective, sensitive, professional and thorough manner social workers carry out their tasks and they have all our support. What can we do to support them either by way of increasing the administrative resources available to them or adding to their numbers? Is it possible that other staff, equally highly qualified but in a different field, within the HSE could receive further training to assist in the field of social work?

We should be able to utilise more effectively some of the substantial taxpayers' money this and previous Governments have spent on health services. At least the Minister of State has indicated his view that a sizeable portion of the delay is due to staff numbers and hopefully the appropriate personnel in his office and in the HSE will reflect on that. The money needed is available and the numbers required are available but it is a question of utilising them to the best possible degree. I hope the Minister of State can progress that. If the three year delay was necessary from an investigative point of view, that would be reasonable, but it is fairly obvious there is no practical or psychological reason an assessment should take up to three years. We must do everything possible to expedite assessments, whether by way of a not-for-profit or other agencies or by providing more resources for the HSE's budget for social workers. We have a duty to respond to the heartfelt pleas we receive from prospective parents and the need to progress their applications.