Mr. Ger Deering:

I would like to take up some of Senator Flynn's points and questions. All of the things that have been said about the need to listen to children obviously apply to adults as well. On the need to design services in accordance with the views and experience of those who will be using them, as Dr. has said, we are the experts of our own lives. So often the problem is that the service is designed by people who do not have the need for the service themselves. They may be well-intentioned but we cannot design a service unless we are actually asking the people who need the service what it is and how they want it designed. The Senator mentioned someone who in their 50s needs an assessment of needs. While there are obviously difficulties for children, for adults there is an even bigger difficulty. The Senator also mentioned rightly that some people might be lucky enough to be able to pay for a private assessment. They should not have to do that but even if they do, I gather there is a waiting list. Then if they get their assessment of needs and there is a diagnosis, they are back to square one because they still cannot access the services. I will ask Ms O'Boyle to add something on this.