Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue today with the Tánaiste and perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who is present, may be in a better position to answer this question. It relates to the progressing disability services for children and young people. A number of families in my constituency and outside it have raised the lack of services with me. These families have children with Down’s syndrome. They have painted a very stark picture in respect of the interventions they were meant to receive. The Minister of State will be aware that these children have not got those interventions for the past couple of years. These are the basic services required for any child’s development. I refer to speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. If we cannot provide for the most vulnerable children, then there is something very wrong not only with the Government but also with the whole system.

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