Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Deputy McGrath asked me detailed questions. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has referred to the difficulties that are being encountered in respect of assessments for children under five years of age. The putting together of all the requirements to have a Ministry for children which has the capacity to deal with all the various interconnected children's issues took some time. The Minister is now focusing on that. In so far as the Department of Health is concerned also, there are direct connections between what is happening there and in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills.

When I met a number of disability groups, I advised them that they should outline the priorities they think are credible and achievable given the circumstances in which the country finds itself. They are happy to work with that. The determination of what funding will be available for the disability and the mental health sectors has not been made yet but these areas must be given priority in the sense that one just cannot remove funding because of the concerns and difficulties that would present.

Work on the publication of an achievable national strategy for those with disability is ongoing. The Minister will publish a strategy when those involved finalise what they can agree on. I congratulate the disability groups on their continued and valued interaction with Government.

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