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

What the Taoiseach has said does not give great hope for those parents who are waiting at the moment. In fact, I know of a parent today who had to go to the other end of the country to pay for a consultation and a diagnosis. It is not acceptable to have to travel 120 or 130 miles to try to get a diagnosis and to pay for it themselves rather than the State helping them out.

While it might be a problem right across the country, there is also a problem with many speech and language therapists being unable to get a full-time contract. They will receive so many hours and that is it.

There is also a piece of legislation, namely the Optional Protocol on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Why has the Government not brought that in to law here because if it is put into law it puts a liability and legal onus on the State to ensure that the Government gives help to those people with those disabilities? Will the Government be bringing that in?

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