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

With Brexit approaching, it will, no doubt, have important consequences for Irish people who must travel to Northern Ireland with their children for important health procedures because waiting lists in the Republic of Ireland are too long. It is vital that the Government navigates its way through uncertain times with our heads well screwed on so that important agreements are held in place and continue well into the future. It is important that we work together and listen to the concerns of the people.

We need to address the extremely long waiting periods for assessment on our own doorstep faced by children with autism and Asperger's syndrome. The Disability Act 2005 provides that children be assessed within short timeframes so that tailored treatment can be identified, but the HSE has consistently failed to comply with this, forcing many to take the private route. People who are unable to take this option must join a waiting list of 18 months and upwards. Once a child is finally assessed, the struggle to find a school place begins. I heard that around 100 parents in Cork attended an open evening last week in the hope of securing a place for a special needs child only to be told that there was one place available for next September. This is not acceptable.

Looking at the simple grommets procedure, children are waiting for years for an appointment during which time they might develop speech delay, which in turn means that they will need speech therapy. This is a classic example of how the Government keeps kicking the can down the road. Why can it not see that if we treat the condition when it arises, it will save time and money in the long run? Parents see this and are taking their children to private hospitals in Northern Ireland. People are travelling to Northern Ireland for a simple tonsillectomy because children are suffering in pain. Why can this not be done in a reasonable time in Bantry General Hospital or in Cork?

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