Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his statement. It would be great if it was true. Unfortunately, none of what he is saying reflects reality. In recent years, we have not seen any improvement in waiting times in this area. That is fact. I am not here to play politics but to reflect the real issues we are encountering with the most vulnerable in society. We have to get real and deliver at the coalface for these children, who are the most vulnerable in society. They need this help to reach and maximise their true potential. We must reduce the burden for parents, guardians and families who have to fight 24-7 for their basic right. That is fundamentally wrong. We have to acknowledge that and get better at making things happen for them. It takes up to two years to have an assessment of need done and a further two years for services or therapies to be delivered, which is wrong. That is the reality, notwithstanding the contents of the Minister of State's statement. We have to look at what is happening on the ground, put measures in place to address the issue and direct the funding to where it needs to go to help the most vulnerable in society. This is critical because a group of people in society who are most in need is not reaching its true potential, which is unfair.

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