Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I listened to what the Minister said and I am sure Harry's parents will be listening closely to what he said. Let me say that Harry cannot wait until next autumn. Harry had serious hip surgery last year. Harry's family and the school have been engaging with the HSE for a year, to no avail. This is an issue of whether Harry will be able stand and walk again in the future and there is no reason that should not happen with the proper services that have been denied to him for over a year since his surgery.

Harry is a child who loves his school. It is the centre of his universe. The worst thing is that he goes to Scoil Mochua where there is a physiotherapist who can provide the service to him but Harry is being denied it because he lives in a different area from where the school is.

Therefore, he cannot avail of the services that are in the school he attends every day. This is red tape. It is about the future of this child, and not just this child as there are six other children in the school. The parents of 85% of the children referred to Inclusion Ireland's report say they have been waiting more than a year for services. Will the Minister intervene on behalf of Harry and the other children at his school? This can be done quickly. Will he give us a commitment for all of the thousands of other children throughout the State who are being failed?

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