Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the response. I understand and genuinely appreciate the efforts that are being made but has the Minister thought about setting a target? It is my understanding that a figure of 600 was also quoted at the meeting but let us not quibble about the figure. We can agree that if it is 600, it is absolutely shameful and disgraceful and if it is 1,000, that is even worse. We can agree that the figure is excessive.

Ada's story illustrates what happens in these situations. The Minister said in his response that the CDNTs have prioritisation and case load management systems in place for both assessment and intervention, ensuring that children "with the highest priority of need" can access services but children who are left on waiting lists become those with the highest priority of need because they do not get early intervention. We cannot call it early intervention. Ada's parents were incredibly proactive. They started the referral process just before their daughter was one and a half and in the intervening time she has received exactly 30 minutes of therapy. What happens in all situations like that, and Ada is one example among hundreds in my area, is that children lose out on valuable time and supports. I appreciate that there is a prioritisation for children with the highest priority of need but the children who are not the highest priority today will become so because they will be left on a waiting list.

Will the Minister consider setting a target for recruitment specifically for areas with excessively long waiting lists? I represent a constituency that has one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the State. The damage that is being done to the children in my constituency is unconscionable. It is being done because they are being left on waiting lists and their parents are frustrated because they are running out of hope.

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