Ms ?ine Lawlor:

It is very clear that where families have appropriate access to services and interventions, the demand for assessment of need goes down. We know that to be the case. We also need to think about why a family goes for an assessment. If a family has a child who is presenting with different needs or concerns, an assessment is part of understanding that. A family might look at different schools in the local area and decide which one they want their child to go to. Part of an assessment is looking at a child and understanding what supports are going to be required for the child and his or her family. As we said, it is that therapeutic process that goes into an assessment that families need. It is not just about the access piece.

I agree that we need the relevant Departments to collaborate so that those barriers are not there but there will be families who still need an assessment to determine what school placement might be appropriate and what supports will be best to help the child to fulfil his or her potential and live his or her lift in the best way possible.