Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I thank all the witnesses for being here and for their opening statements and their contributions so far. I will pose my questions and then whoever would like to answer them may do so.

As regards the upcoming review of Ireland's compliance with the UNCRPD, and given IHREC's role in the monitoring mechanism and being that independent monitor for it, how far of a gap do the witnesses think we will see in terms of Ireland's compliance? Are we 10% of the way? Are we 20% of the way? That might be a difficult question to answer, but given the witnesses are the ones doing the monitoring, how do they foresee our compliance will look in terms of the report following the review that will come?

As regards a couple of other issues, I refer to the review and the changes to the primary medical cert for the new transport scheme. I understand from the latest replies I have got that the new scheme is under way within the Department of Transport. There does not seem to be any level of urgency in terms of that scheme. It has been going on now for a long time, yet people with genuine need are being locked out of what is a really important scheme, particularly in rural areas, where there is a lack of public transport. Similarly, in terms of housing and education, there is a severe lack of planning as to why we are not building the houses at scale, whether they are for independent living for disabled people or, similarly, for older people. Do the witnesses foresee any level of planning or co-ordination, local authority by local authority, when it comes to seeing what the demand is in that local authority and building and planning ahead to make sure we have those houses? Is that done anywhere well internationally?

Dr. McDonagh made the point about early intervention and education and getting the supports at primary school and into secondary school and then going on to get a career that you will hopefully love and be able to progress in. I presume the witnesses would be concerned about the issues we have seen in terms of special classes and now the latest issue in terms of SNAs, where a SENO recommends an SNA and the school does not get that SNA. Again, I imagine that all feeds into that early intervention for young people and children with additional needs.

Lastly, I want to get the witnesses' views - reference has been made to this - on the assessments of need for children. We expect the waiting lists will hit about 25,000 by the end of this year. I would be very concerned about the commentary from the Government, with the Taoiseach yesterday saying again that we need to change the legislation. What that means I do not know, but would the witnesses have any concerns about any change to the legislation when it comes to the assessment of need, given it is the only legal entitlement for a person in terms of getting that assessment and getting then the services they need? The latter, of course, is another battle after that.