Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

How does the Government think children in Ireland today are getting a fair start to their lives? It is far from a fair start they are getting. From the number of homeless children to the long waiting lists for children's hospital and consultant appointments and the lack of adequate special needs assistants, SNAs, and resources, how can the Government think it is doing well by children living here? Homelessness is a serious issue and the number of homeless families is unacceptable. More than one in three people in emergency accommodation are children. We need the Government to provide more affordable housing. I have listened enough to the plans and various reports the Government has on the matter. I want to see real results on the ground. My offices in west Cork are inundated with constituents who have waited for years on the housing list. Some are living with their children in awful, substandard accommodation. Many are living in houses with damp, mould and funguses growing on the walls and ceilings. No child should have to endure such living conditions in this day and age.

Does the Government comprehend the crisis facing children who are waiting for hospital and consultant appointments? Last year, Barnardos reported that more than 37,000 children were waiting for mental health, disability and speech and language treatment nationally. Adding insult to injury, the report highlighted that some children had yet to receive an initial assessment while 78% with a disability or suspected disability were overdue an assessment. This is outrageous and the Government cannot allow it to continue. In talking about a fair start for every child, we cannot forget this evening the local voluntary groups which provide excellent supports and services to families and children in their areas. In my own area of west Cork, the Jack & Friends support centre, formally known as Bandon Autism Parent Support, is an excellent resource for children and their families. The group is holding its official opening on Saturday week and I wish them every success. They have worked very hard and moved to a beautiful premises in Bandon which will bring much joy to the children of the town and its surrounding areas.

I welcomed the Government's announcement last May that there will be an overhaul of the special needs assessment scheme in schools. SNAs do amazing work and must be supported. We must ensure that all children who require resource hours will get all the hours they need. Having spoken to people on the ground, it is clear to me that we still have an issue with the time it takes to assess a child and put in place resources. The Government must recognise the problem and tackle the waiting list for once and for all.

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