Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I welcome the witnesses. I apologise, but I was listening in for most of the morning. I am a parent of a young autistic son. I was also the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Autism. I met some of the witnesses previously, when they were before that committee. It is good to hear there is engagement with the Department. I remember at the time that there was no engagement with any of the relevant organisations when PDS was being set up. That is something that is positive.

The school inclusion model is the model we all want to get to, but the reality is I do not know how many years it would take to have enough qualified professionals in the country to fill the roles to actually do it. We need to be realistic about it and say it will not happen in the short term. That is a question. I know additional places were opened up in some of the colleges here and in Northern Ireland. Have we enough places in speech and language therapy in third level colleges in the country at the minute? I would like a short answer on that one.

We have seen the CDNTs, which are fully funded by the Government. Comments were made about the Government not resourcing things. The Government is resourcing. The reality is we do not have enough professionals to fill the roles to carry out what we need to carry out. There are hundreds of positions in the various CDNTs and primary care teams across the country. In my county of Longford, down the years, we had vacant roles that nobody even applied for, when roles within the CDNT were advertised. Significant investment has been put in privately by the Government for additional assessments of need. I have my own opinion on that, and different comments were made with regard to the assessment of need. I fully believe it is a service and support that is required. That should be the priority. If someone has a speech and language issue, they do not need an assessment to tell them they need therapy and support. That is the point we need to get to.

Every child should have a right to a service. The unfortunate part is when children do not get that support, they regress and there are more difficulties as they get older. A number of courses have been opened in the ETBs for speech and language assistant positions. What are the witnesses' thoughts and views on them? Should there be an assistant position in every single school in the country that will work with a qualified speech and language therapist that would take on 30, 40, 50 or whatever number of schools? Is that something they believe in?

Deputy Toole mentioned alternative therapies. Speaking as a parent, we used equine therapy, which was brilliant. It was the best thing we have ever done to bring on our son and open up his mind. We use music therapy through the LiFT programme, which the witnesses might be aware of, with a speech and language therapist based in Galway. We went from our son probably starting in a special school to being able to start in mainstream school with support. He is now in a special class and getting on brilliantly, but not being able to communicate raised his frustration levels and his meltdowns. That is what causes significant issues for kids.

There are other alternatives. I am still on a committee here that meets every month, which met yesterday. It includes members of all parties and none. We leave politics at the door. We are looking to implement all 109 recommendations we made in the joint report. That is what we are committed to doing. We are sticking together to make sure we do. I would like the witnesses' views on RPM, which was raised. People have not been favourable towards it, but if it works it works, even if it works for only one or two or three children. It is work to be proven. We had a meeting with parents yesterday. We met with children and we also met with Fiacre Ryan, who gave evidence to our committee previously. What are the witnesses' views on those alternative therapies that work?