Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank everyone here today. It is so important that all of us work together for people with disabilities. I particularly want to mention my good friend, John Dolan, who has been a huge advocate for the Disability Federation of Ireland. I sat with John in the Seanad for four years.

I want to talk about preschool children. They are not expected to social distance and I believe they can go in groups, like pods. I am concerned that the HSE has reduced disability funding to organisations by 1%, which on the scale of things is massive. Will there be funding for these preschools when they go back? Is that a concern?

The second matter on which I received several phone calls is that children have not been receiving any therapies - physiotherapy, occupational therapy, OT, speech, psychology - as the HSE is now only operating face-to-face with priority 1 cases. Already, we have had long waiting lists, particularly for network disability team, NDT, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, assessments, with no new appointments being given. This is worrying for the families.

The early intervention service is simply not happening for many as by the time their turn comes around for assessment, therapy or speech or OT, early years have passed. We need to look at significant investments. Maybe I can come back on that one.

I would like to support Enough Is Enough and Linda Comerford, who is a carer. In fairness, we need to know when all the services are opening. Given that Ms Comerford is from Kilkenny, I am sure Deputy Funchion will raise it too. We need a roadmap. When I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, the other day, I asked her when we could get official dates. We have heard a suggestion that it might happen in August or September. The Minister of State told me she had been speaking to the HSE. She has asked about a web page because she believes it might give more information about the over 1,000 services provided to adults. I feel from dealing with families and listening to their concerns that there is a lack of information. What do the witnesses feel about the new web page that is to be put up by the HSE? Can I have an answer on that?

The other thing I want to ask about is whether there will be enough funding. Is it possible that when we go back to adult services or preschool services, we will not get the funding that is there? Have any of the different bodies been speaking to the HSE? Can someone come back in on that? Is my time nearly up?