Dr. Aideen Hartney:

I thank the Deputy. We have reviewed data on reduced school days; we do not collect it ourselves. Again, the NCSE and the Department have a policy that that practice should not be used for punitive measures. It should only be used to foster inclusion. It is not something we have looked at specifically. The policy direction is that it should be used in a way that is fit for purpose. The NCSE would have more detailed knowledge on the extent to which that has been used.

If I have picked it up correctly, the NDA may be making a submission to the Government on assessments of need. Is it possible to be given an indication at this stage of its position on current efforts by the Government to address the crisis with the waiting lists for assessments of need? Yesterday in the budget, €20 million was announced for the waiting list initiative for assessments of need. While we would all welcome any further investment in this area, I have a big concern that it is further entrenching an approach towards private outsourcing of this service. There are several reasons for this. A lot of children could be seen relatively quickly without necessarily going through a full assessment of need. They could be seen for a therapeutic assessment in primary care. These are children with mild to moderate difficulties. If primary care services were properly resourced the children could be seen in a timely fashion and continue to work with the same clinicians. We know how important continuity of care is.

It is very well known among my former colleagues in disability services and mental health services that the increased outsourcing is creating what is known as a perverse incentive. Increasingly, clinicians employed by the HSE are incentivised to take up quite lucrative private work that is available through initiatives such as this. This, in turn, further hollows out the services. Many clinicians are leaving. It addresses one level of need, which is a legal requirement of the Government, but what happens after this? Does the NDA have a position on the privatisation of a service such as assessment of need?