Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, there is a commitment to improving services and increasing support for people with disabilities, particularly in the area of early assessment and intervention for children with special needs. Today I want to raise the issue of assessment of needs for children in Cavan-Monaghan. The reality on the ground for parents is stark. They are being told that it will take two to three years to get an assessment for a child they know has autism or another intellectual disability and needs intervention. Then, having got the assessment, in most cases they wait two to three years for the intervention, whether occupational therapy, speech and language therapy or physical therapy. The Taoiseach and I both know that early intervention is crucial and critical to the development of those children. Will the Taoiseach see to it that these services are delivered in a much speedier fashion?

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