Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Vice Chairman, who is doing a great job. I congratulate all our speakers. Councillor Bailey mentioned the assessment of needs, the time it takes for assessments to be made and the delay and frustration involved. She said she has to fight for everything. I hear the same thing every day of the week in my constituency office. Parents of children who have issues are trying to find the best way forward but the system seems to be tied up in the system as opposed to tied up with the child. That is one area I will be working on with the Minister to try to get more changes. The management structure has changed in Galway, where teams have been created. However, the same people are being dished around in a different way and we do not have enough resources. If Councillor Bailey has any other ideas on how that should be done, it would be appreciated if she would send them to us.

I also raise the matter of disability payments. I would welcome Councillor Bailey's views on whether they should be tailor-made. The payment Councillor Bailey might get could be different to the payment Dr. Rath would get because of their different needs and wants. There are additional costs involved in being a disabled person and that should be reflected in the supports that are given. I would welcome any comments or ideas Councillor Bailey might have, even if she does not share them today when I know she is tight for time.

I will have questions for our other guests later. I say "Well done" to Councillor Bailey. It is important that she continues to liaise with us as a committee on all of these things.