Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We must be very clear about this issue. In a recent statement, the Ombudsman for Children said that the assessment of needs delays are not a Covid problem. This has been an issue for many years. The HSE needs to explain why these measures do not appear to be working. The Minister of State must provide clarity as to exactly how many children are waiting for their needs to be assessed. We need to know the average waiting time and what areas of the country are most impacted. I can tell the Minister of State that in County Kerry, today was a typical day. I just happened to check before I left the office, and since dinner time, I have had three inquiries from people in County Kerry - not outside of it - telling me that their children are waiting to have their needs and level of disability assessed. They are awaiting a decision on the roadmap for their future. While they are waiting, they are not able to avail of whatever services they need. The assessment must be carried out in a timely fashion. All we want for what I would call special children is that they are allowed to develop and grow into the best human beings they can be. With the nurturing and the care of their parents, their families and their extended families, they will do brilliantly. Each and every one of them will be terribly important people in our society and for their families. They are wanted and loved. We want them to get the best out of life. It is up to each and every one of us. It is up to us as politicians. We would be useless if we did not come in here and tackle the Minister of State, tell her that it is her responsibility and ask her what she is going to do to ensure that parents will be able to have their little boy or girl to assessed in a timely and affordable fashion. Parents are told to go down the private route. Of course, parents would give anything for their child. They would give their last euro to do something for their child. However, in many cases it is not practical or feasible for them to do so. All we are asking of the Minister of State - and we are not asking, we are begging - is that she help these parents and children to be the best people that they can be in the future.

See this speech in context