Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My question concerns the absence of a psychologist for school-age children in the north west, including counties Sligo and Leitrim. I have received an email from a parent in north Leitrim whose eight year old daughter has displayed various disorders and emotional dysfunction. She is on the list awaiting an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, assessment, but there is no psychologist for school-age children in the area. The parent to whom I refer has received a communication from the service informing her that the child is at No. 67 on a list of 68 children. In recent weeks 50 children in the region have been transferred to access this service in Northern Ireland by way of a special fund put in place for them.

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That fund is now exhausted. This child's mother has been told that she will have to wait up to eight months for an assessment. This child cannot attend school full time; she only goes part time. She lashes out at other children and at teachers, she damages property, she runs out on the road, and she climbs out of windows. Her situation needs to be resolved, and quickly.

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