Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the Deputy's involvement in Holy Angels and I have visited the centre. I again refer to the €11.5 million. That money must be spent to ensure children have a proper assessment of need. We have a Disability Act and we need to work within that. Children need timely intervention. It can no longer be words or lip service. We need action. The Deputy asked me a pertinent question on whether I have confidence in the HSE. My confidence in the HSE is shattered. What will restore my confidence is a pragmatic and agile approach to ensure we can step up our regional hubs for assessment to ensure we clear that backlog in a timely fashion. We need to work with private industry that meet the proper regulations and criteria set out by the HSE to ensure all children have one. Sensational Kids Kildare, in the Ceann Comhairle's area, is a fantastic resource. In Cork, we have the Rainbow Club. We need to start working more with organisations that have the skills and ability to help us deliver and meet the needs of children. What we witnessed last night cannot continue. Meetings such as the one the Deputy had last week cannot continue. Meetings such as those I had last year cannot continue. It is time now that I demand that we have a pragmatic, pivoted approach from the HSE to take everybody under the tent to ensure we work with all so that no child is left waiting. The Deputy is correct about timely intervention for every child. We should be ambitious that all assessments are done before children go to school so that when they hit education, it is an educational need and not a health assessment need that is required.

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