Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome today Carlow receiving in excess of €734,000 for the free schoolbooks for primary school children. Something so important that I worked so hard on is the hot meals for all DEIS primary schools in September.

The work for non-DEIS schools will hopefully happen shortly after, within the next few years. That is part of the plan. It is so important that children are looked after but I have one concern in Carlow. There is no occupational therapy for children and the waiting list for the public service is incredibly long. Speech and language and the children's disability network team, CDNT, assessments are working from referrals given in 2019. These children's families cannot afford to pay for the private assessment. Will the Taoiseach clarify this? My understanding is that the State was meant to be providing this private service. Why is the State not stepping in when children who need these assessments are not getting them? There is no question that money is an issue. Children in Carlow are entering mainstream education in my area this September who have never seen a therapist. This is a huge concern for me. I have been working closely with the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, on this. There are really distressed families and children who really need to be assessed. I feel that we are hitting a crisis now. I ask that everything be done to help these families. I welcome the good news story today for all primary schools getting the free books scheme.

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