Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have some views on the issues of retention and recruitment. There are forums for engagement with parents, often just out canvassing and such, meeting parents or indeed therapists who are working in the system, of whom I have met many.

I might hold off until the transfer comes before going into that in real detail because I am not the line Minister right now. I caution that there is a big change happening but this will take time. The committee knows me; I am a cautious person by nature. This will take time but myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, see children's disability services as an absolute priority. We see the need to address the challenges there and begin that process of improving accessibility to services. I cannot claim that by the end of this Government the issue will be fully solved but I hope to see us on an improved track and seeing higher levels of staffing across CDNTs with lower waiting lists across the country.