Ms Catherine Cox:

I would be of a similar opinion, as would many parents. In the past, we would see the grading of mild to moderate to severe for conditions. Quite often, those with mild to moderate conditions who got the lowest level of service. However, that could result in their child going from mild to moderate to severe if they are denied those services throughout their life. I have a concern with regard to how it would be done, as well as the administration of it, as Ms Duffy said. We have called for the reform of carer's allowance. It could be very simple and based on the work done and the needs of the person, without getting into grading those needs. If somebody is providing 24-7 care, perhaps that is a higher rate, for example, than somebody providing care fewer hours during the work and able to work part time, which is slightly different from looking at the level of needs and grading it like that.

Going back to the Deputy’s comment on the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, I was in the Dáil when she talked about the commitment to setting up the assessment of needs centres, which we would obviously welcome. If they are not up and running by the 1 August, she mentioned bringing to budget the idea that they would be paid for through, I presume, the purchase fund. We would welcome that. We welcome anything that gets those thousands of children off a waiting list for assessment of needs and vital therapies. However, we need to see that done urgently. It needs to be addressed. We welcome the Minister of State’s commitment. We also welcome the Labour Party bringing forward the motion.