Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

The Deputy's suggestion is very helpful and I will also convey that. From my experience of children with disabilities, there are children who will not progress - we know that because it is obvious and we do not need to go into specifics. It is not even in one particular area. Children with autism can sometimes be on the very mild end of the scale and in other cases on the profound end, and there is a whole range of categories. However, as someone who is interested in ensuring people with disabilities progress in life in as independent a way as possible, I would expect there are certain children who would progress and that training and involvement in school and with their local community would ensure them the level of attention and detail they need. For example, the expectation is that when a three, four or five year old with certain needs reaches eight or nine years of age, the level of dependence would have diminished. The review process is about that more than anything else.

I regret there is confusion. I understand that when a letter such as this comes in the door, into circumstances where people felt secure in the past, it can lead to a certain amount of confusion, and not just of insecurity. I will convey the Deputy's remarks to the Minister.

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