Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Dr. Hartney in the sense that as long as everyone in the pilot realises it is a pilot, best practices can emerge out of that. You can see the benefit of a speech and language therapist observing group time where a number of children are using AAC devices in various formats. It is about being able to consult in a broad manner as to how to improve the overall class. Often in special classes, there is scheduled OT time in the gym and a physio or OT comes in regularly to observe the whole class. I would love to see the model look like that.

To come back to day services and adult services, I see different levels of consistency. Some services are fantastic, others are middling and some are not so great. I think of the South West Mayo Development Company, which has a fantastic social farming project, which is really engaging for those members. I visited the Irish Wheelchair Association in Belmullet, which has fantastic approaches to meaningful employment and exercise. There does not seem to be any kind of a curriculum or formal guide to the different services, however. There can often be section 38 or section 39 organisations involved. There is a lot of inconsistency.