Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Dr. Muldoon. I will ask two quick questions before I let other members in. In the Plan for Places report published in June 2022, the Office of Ombudsman for Children focused on forward planning and the provision for school places for children with special educational needs. What is the office's current view on how the provisions for these schools are organised each year, because we get it every year? It is like the school buses. It is absolutely crazy to wait nearly until school starts before starting to plan. What can be done better or what better planning would the ombudsman recommend to the Department in that case? Second, in its annual report for 2022, Falling Behind, the office was asked to act as an adviser for children's rights to the Mental Health Commission and its independent review on CAMHS. Dr. Muldoon went on to say that the office is awaiting a final report from that commission. Can Dr. Muldoon elaborate more on this and make suggestions as to how CAMHS can work better for everyone? We have seen how dysfunctional that can be at times. The witnesses can respond to those two questions and then I will let other members in.