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

I welcome that. I urge the Minister of State to consider further expansion of the system. I know how committed she is to the issue. I work with parents and I am aware of their concerns. The number of applications for assessment of needs under the Disability Act 2005 has risen steadily since the implementation of the system in June 2007. Some 7,612 applications for assessments of need were received in the most recent four quarters. The third quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023 show the highest number of applications received in any 12-month period since Part 2 of the Act was commenced in June 2007. While I know the Minister of State is working on this and she is committed to it, it is important that we recruit and get as many staff as we can to work with the families and the children to get them assessed as soon as possible. I thank the Minister of State for all her help and support on this over the year.

See this speech in context