Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I agree with the sectoral plans, which are a good idea in principle. However, they cannot be academic. The problem with the sectoral plans is that expectations will be raised. People will have an assessment carried out and service plans will follow as a result — the focus will be on pre-school children. During the Adjournment debate last week I drew attention to difficulties with three children that highlighted the problem of the unequal level of service within the Health Service Executive. For example a child had to wait for 24 months for an assessment for speech and language therapy in County Kildare. This child's parents were advised the HSE can forward them a list of private occupational therapists. This child is autistic and is in a mainstream school because there is no occupational therapist available and resources are not available for such provision. I have a letter from the HSE indicating it cannot employ additional staff because there is a cap on the number of therapists it can provide.

These plans will remain merely academic unless the necessary people are put in place to deliver on what is provided in those plans. While the point was made during the debate on the disability Bill that finance will be a key issue, the provision of physical resources will be a key issue in the cases I raised during the debate last week.

I am happy to give the Minister of State details of three examples I used, as I was drawing attention to the needs of real human beings. That cap on employment and the unequal level of distribution of services in the HSE has the potential to ensure that these service plans cannot be delivered on in some parts of the country. It is not good enough that one's postcode determines the level of service one gets.

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