David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Very quickly, if I can come back on that. I have spoken to many parents in recent weeks. I have spoken to legal people taking court cases on the very assessments the Minister is speaking about. I have spoken to advocacy groups which are also raising concerns about the figure of 6,000 and what has happened. As the Minister knows, the Act provides for assessments of need. The Act clearly states the assessment of need should determine whether a child has a disability, the extent and nature of the disability and the services the child needs. What actually happened was the HSE created a new assessment of needs process through the standard operating procedure. Most children get a 20-minute screening. It is not even an assessment. Quite rightly, it is referred to by parents and advocacy groups as a screening. I have been in GP surgeries for as long as 20 minutes. How in God's name is someone meant to determine the nature and extent of the disability of a child in 20 minutes?

I will set out what happens so the Minister is aware of it. Children with autism apply for an assessment of needs, which we know should be provided within six months. The children get this screening as opposed to an assessment. If it is determined they may have a disability or may need more of an assessment, they go on a separate waiting list. We are creating waiting lists within waiting lists. While 6,000 people have had this assessment of need under the standard operating procedure, which in essence many would describe as screening, many of them are not getting their service statement which states the services they need. This is simply because 20 minutes will not cut it.

There are fundamental problems with the assessment of need. What is crucial is the provision of services. The Minister might be aware, although perhaps he is not, that there is a case in the Court of Appeal on the standard operating procedure. It is challenging precisely what I have just said about the nature of the assessment being done. Does the Minister accept a child with autism or special needs having a 20-minute screening? Does he accept it would be almost impossible to determine the level of services and the nature and extent of a disability a child has in a 20-minute screening? Does he accept as a layperson that this simply would not be appropriate?