Ms Áine Lawlor:

Absolutely, removing a right does not make sense at this point. Our system is hampered in every way for families. Removing a right to something is not the way to do that when the system is not functioning for them. People need to have an appropriate assessment when they need it but now there are massive waiting lists for assessment. We also see the impact of recruitment challenges from the pay and numbers strategy. Children are missing out. Assessment of need is not the only time. As Ms O'Rourke said, we have children who should be seen by a public health nurse for a developmental check and should then get early access into speech and language therapy or an appropriate pre-school setting. They should then have an assessment at an appropriate time and move into education. Those pieces are missed all the way along with long waiting lists for absent services. Then they get to school, where the school is left trying to put that together. I think members have heard that as a committee multiple times. We need to actually resource our services so they can meet children and their families at a time when they need to be met. That assessment, for some children, is at two years of age while for other children, it is more appropriately done in a school-based setting with a team around them. Having such a rigid system-----