Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am on a similar theme to that raised by Senator Clonan but with a different focus. One of the most welcome initiatives of our new Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, has been to set up a Cabinet sub-committee on disability issues, with a particular focus on children with disabilities. The sub-committee is up and functioning and being chaired by the Taoiseach in an active way. It is a very important initiative. Before I come to my substantive point, I wish to put on the record that, at numerous meetings between Cavan parents of children with disabilities and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, I have been very impressed by her genuine commitment to doing something on this issue. She has shown patent sincerity in this regard. I welcome that and I welcome the sub-committee but I ask the Leader to ensure, either through debates or bringing our view upstairs, that we make it clear that we must eliminate, or reduce to a period of weeks, the waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS.To have people waiting for CAMHS in the obvious condition, state of mind, state of stress, state of anxiety or whatever that an adolescent would be in - it is by definition for adolescents - and to suggest they should be left up to a year waiting is an abomination. It is crazy. That condition, as the Leader and I know, is not something one can take chances with. CAMHS is really urgent. Obviously, assessments for autism and various neurological issues, assessments for disabilities, such as dyspraxia and dyslexia, and assessments for all disabilities that will impact on education and personal development have to be speedy. I would be interested in the Leader's reaction to this question and in what she might propose could be done about it from a Seanad perspective. This is above politics. It is not a partisan question. It is not a party political question. It is a human rights question; it is a human question. It transcends all issues. We have to throw ourselves at this one. It would be a wonderful legacy of this Parliament if there was real action here.