Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)

These are late nights, but it is important work. I congratulate the Minister of State on her new appointment. I am sure she will work just as hard as she did in her last Department.

I heard the discussion on assessment of need, AON, before I came in and upcoming changes were being spoken about. Just this week, I was part of the problem when I referred somebody for an assessment of need because they had engaged with their primary care service and been told to wait and see until the child reached the age of three before any assessment would be done. Enrolment in a playschool took place this week. The child is not at early childhood care and education, ECCE, level yet, so it is not possible to get an access and inclusion, AIM, support worker. They do not think that playschool is an appropriate place. I told the parent that if there was a diagnosis of autism, which the child is showing characteristics of, I know it would be possible to get home tuition from two and a half to three years of age. If there was not an appropriate place then, it would be possible to get 20 hours from three to four years. I am part of the problem this week in increasing the waiting list, but I did not see any other way forward for those people.