Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The parents of children with physical or intellectual disabilities must continuously fight the system for services for their children. The Tánaiste stated that more special needs assistants will be provided.

I am sorry to say that is not what is happening on the ground. The Tánaiste referred to speech and language and occupational therapy. A whole series of questions could be brought in these areas. There could be hours of debate on these matters and every Deputy could bring their own experience to bear. The waiting list for occupational therapy, speech therapy and all of that produces extraordinarily difficulties. There are huge waiting lists. Parents come to me with stories of waiting lists of a year or a year and a half but the services are needed now.

The Tánaiste made a point about special needs assistants. Will she tease out the point? We have all signed up to UN conventions and so on and the theory is correct, but the reality is that there is extraordinary concern among people and there is a lack of supports for children with either physical or intellectual disabilities. This applies whether they are trying to access the services in primary school, preschool or in second-level education.

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