Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I have had practical experience of children who failed to receive this essential service. Between the Departments of Education and Science and Health and Children, it is a scandal that we have gone through the so-called Celtic tiger while young, unfortunate children are left impaired because of the lack of commitment by the State to co-ordinate a service essential to young people whether in schools or outside.

I will continue to raise this matter for as long as God gives me the health to remain in this House. I first raised the issue 25 years ago about a particular individual whose parents were told that their child was mentally handicapped and that they should put him in an institution and have another baby. Today that young man is a qualified architect. When I think back I wonder how many unfortunate young people were cast into mental institutions, as they were then known, and are still there today who only needed psychological and speech therapy to lead normal lives. I shudder to think how many people were left in that situation.

I have given a practical example from 25 years ago and if the Minister of State, Deputy Devins, wishes to accompany me, I will be only too happy to introduce him to the parents of that man who is now a fully qualified architect, contributing to this society and to the health services through his taxes. Something must be done immediately. The Minister of State should examine what is currently being done in Northern Ireland and Scotland. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

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