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

In the programme for Government, the Taoiseach gave a commitment to providing healthcare for those with disabilities. I want to tell him about nine year old Millie in Kingscourt, County Cavan. Nine year old Millie has autism and is non-verbal. At nine years of age, she has achieved almost no speech and language therapy. When I put questions to the HSE, the response I got was that while it cannot definitely say that Millie can be seen, her review appointment was scheduled last February, which would have been 2018, and therefore she will be a priority. On further investigation of what I would call a travesty for a child who is non-verbal and nine years of age, the relevant post has been left vacant for a whole year and there is a question to be answered in this regard. Can the Taoiseach tell me, and Millie's parents who perhaps are listening in today, what he will do to ensure there is a service in place for those such as Millie who are non-verbal and cannot access speech and language therapy?

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