Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The solution to this problem is to provide readily available access to courses in speech and language for students. This would give parents access to early interventions through the HSE and not cause those parents to have to fork out hundreds if not thousands of euro privately for these services. I talked to the Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists, which recognises that communication is a basic human right and that we must address this anomaly. We are seeing many more diagnoses of people who have mild forms of disability and are impaired in this regard. These concerns have been expressed. From listening to the Minister today, it is evident that the issue is being addressed. I look forward to further progress in this regard.

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