Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I certainly will refer it to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. I have also been talking to one of the barristers who is taking many of these cases and the situation is very bad. This story suggests the establishment of the disability network teams is not making any difference; it is just another layer. We have assessments of need, disability network teams, CAMHS and NEPS. It is all fragmented. In reality, while they might tick certain boxes, they are not actually doing the assessments or getting the services. The point is Frankie's future and the future of many thousands of other kids are at stake. If Frankie gets the early intervention and the supports now, he will be fine. Despite developmental delays and so on, he can flourish. If he does not get that, his future will be seriously jeopardised, as will the future of many other children. There are new layers of bureaucracy. Disability network teams, by the way, are 28% understaffed. That is the problem.

I will talk in a minute about the psychologists and the lack thereof. We need the law to be upheld and the rights of Frankie and other children to be upheld.

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