Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I also add my voice to what was said by Deputy Keogh on Usher syndrome. I recently met representatives of Usher Syndrome Ireland myself. There are obvious, very specific issues that relate to deafblindness and it is something that has to be built into planning. They need a voice and to be provided with a forum for their particular issues to be addressed. Some of them are very obvious, but planning is not always taken into account.

To return to the assessments of need, I get what the Minister of State says about it has to be beyond dealing with the waiting list. However, on the waiting list specifically, the fact is we are looking at the possibility of 25,000 being on the waiting list, having failed on the delivery of the six-month timeline, the breach of law and all those other particular issues. On how this is being addressed, will 25,000 on the list be the case at the end of the year or is there a possibility it will be rectified to some degree?