Last night, I attended a meeting of Reachability in Enniscorthy along with two colleagues, Senator Malcolm Byrne and Deputy James Browne. It is a section 39 facility and, as we all now know, our section 39 facilities are very vulnerable. They are not entitled to the same funding as section 38 facilities. The staff are being depleted by section 38 facilities and the HSE. They are just poaching the staff left, right and centre. We do know, however, that they are subject to the same rules under HIQA. The families, the service users and the staff and management pleaded last night for us to stop and look at section 38 and 39 entities and bring them into line with one another to stop them haemorrhaging staff. The facilities will close and we have a very grave dependence on section 39 facilities to provide services to the most vulnerable in our society. What proposals are in place?

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.