David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The point is the six months only kicks in for the standard operating procedure. If children need to go on for a more in-depth assessment of need, the six-month period does not apply, or at least the HSE is not applying it. This is one of the problems here. Parents are now waiting. The initial screening or assessment of need for children with autism is 20 minutes. They are in and out and told they need to go on another list and they are waiting again. Surely the Minister understands how problematic and difficult this is.