Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A few weeks ago the Tánaiste was taking Leaders' Questions and I brought up a difficult case in County Roscommon of a youngster who has autism. He basically rips 20 T-shirts a week, takes out everything from the fridge at night, and can go out and damage the car. His father was at his wit's end and actually lost his job over it. His father was looking for residential care for his child but, unfortunately, nothing has been provided yet. The Tánaiste said he would look into it and he has all of the documentation. I hope that he will.

To make matters worse, it has come to my attention from people in the Tuam and Dunmore areas that children who have different disabilities within the children's disability network team 7 are waiting five years for assessments, and one child is waiting 13 years. A HSE report from 2023 to 2026 said on the service improvement plan that there are 16,500 children waiting, with 19,000 waiting for an assessment of need. We are seeing this constantly. I do not know if it is the west of Ireland or if this is all over the country where children with different disabilities need assessments and care plans; the resources do not seem to be put in place, regardless of whether it is speech and language or other services one wants. There is a major problem because, as the Taoiseach may know, with autism if a child does not receive the help between the ages of two and eight, things become more difficult and we need to be clear about that. I am asking the Taoiseach and his Government what they intend to do to ensure the situation is addressed.

Our Constitution states that we cherish all of our children equally. These children have got a bad deal from this State at the moment with the resources that have been given to them. With a little help, many of those youngsters would be able to go on to fulfil a very normal life but if we deprive them of the requirements they need at the moment, it will not do justice to those children down the road. Tomorrow, the parents in Tuam will be forced at 12 noon to go out to protest about the situation and the way they are being treated. I am asking the Taoiseach what this Government will do to help those children and those families, these mothers and fathers who work every day with their children and want to do the best for them. I am asking what will the State do to help those mothers and fathers and, especially, those children.

See this speech in context