Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have listened to all the commentary since this committee was formed. To be fair to the Chair and the entire committee, they have focused on this standard operating procedure, SOP. It was part of the pre-Covid transition in January before I arrived as Minister of State. I am not making excuses, but it was already in place. The committee looked into it, brought in the Ombudsman, whom we have to compliment for the work he did in addressing the issue of unmet need, clinicians and the HSE, and nobody has told me what the alternative should be. Nobody has presented an alternative to me. What we had in the past was not working because we created a backlog. The Deputy asked me if I had concerns about it. I absolutely do; that is why a review is taking place. That is why I met with the independent chair and why the HSE is conducting the review, because it realises there is a concern out there. Those conducting the review want to lay out all the fears and address everything that is laid out. Nobody wants this to be a box-ticking exercise. We need to ensure that what we have in place works. We want to achieve a timely intervention. Can we get rid of queues once and for all? Can we get children to therapies?

Of the 100% of children who have had a SOP assessment, 86% of them have received an intervention. Of that, some 40% have gone on for a further, more complex, assessment while receiving an intervention at the same time. If we worked with the old system, they would have gone through hours and hours before ever getting an intervention. Yes, I have the same concerns as all the committee members. I heard exactly what the Ombudsman said about unmet need, but HSE clinician Dr. Macklin has come forward. She has worked with the HSE and Fórsa while the HSE has worked with the legal group in order to put forward this position on it. I am not saying it is a panacea but do you know who will tell us if it is? The clinicians and parents who will access it. We need to let the review work its way through. Have I answered that question?