Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. They have given us an insight into how they are living through this process and the issues arising, which are horrible. This committee has had many meetings and is determining the best way to progress disability services. Having listened this morning, I believe the frustration of parents of children with Down’s syndrome relates to the fact that everything is being talked about although things are not happening on the ground. The children’s disability network teams were set up. Will the witnesses give me an idea as to whether the deckchairs have just been changed on the Titanicor whether services have been improved as a result of the reconfiguration?

The other issue I have relates to the statement of one of the witnesses that she was in the waiting room when she received a telephone call stating her appointment was cancelled. If a person has a caseworker, how in the name of God is that caseworker not communicating on a basis that really and truly means the person knows what is going on, rather than finding out in a waiting room?

My third question relates to intervention services. I see that only one hour of intervention was given to a certain child over the past three years, with no assessment. This type of thing is happening. These failures within the State manifest themselves in homes throughout the country. Could I have the delegates' views on that?

Why, in the opinion of the delegates, are therapists so hard to get? When we do get them, why do they not stay in the system? Is it that the system is broken? Do therapists lose hope when in the system because they believe they cannot do anything with it? We are being told at Government level that it is not a question of money and at HSE level that it is a question of the recruitment process, but surely we need to ensure we have the professionals in place to carry out the early interventions and do all that needs to be done to ensure the children get the services to which they are legally entitled, not just the services they deserve? Could I hear the delegates’ comments on that?