Mr. Mark Darmody:

As regards the starting point in this, I will give our own family circumstances. We have been permanently damaged by the actions of the State. We have two profoundly intellectually disabled children, and we will have to carry the can for the next 40-odd years as a result of the State's neglect. That creates in our house a sense of urgency. That is not there right now. There is nobody. I could ring up several psychologists in Tipperary and say, "Please, will you work Saturdays and Sundays? We are in a serious emergency." That is not being done. We tried to get it through to the Taoiseach that this is the essential component that is missing, that there is no comprehension that damage is being caused to people. This is talked about. The Taoiseach, on the previous occasion he was Taoiseach, told us that recruitment was an issue. What has happened in the three years since that conversation took place? I do not want to say nothing, because that is not true; the Government is doing things. I take Deputy Toole's points about the long-term issues. Our point to the Taoiseach is that right now those 15,000 are condemned because there is no hope for them and they will suffer damage. Unless the Taoiseach changes his attitude today, we will be talking about this next year.