Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This problem has been getting steadily worse under this Government. For all of the task forces and all of the reviews proposed by the Minister, there are immediate solutions that need to be implemented. Deputies Cullinane and Tully and other members of the Opposition have told the Government what they are. Most importantly, the families of the children involved and the professionals directly involved in providing these services have told the Government what the solutions are.

The Government needs to end the recruitment embargo on HSE primary care services. The Government needs to fully resource and staff children's disability teams. The Government needs to end the disparity between HSE and section 39 disability service providers. The Government needs to plan special education places. We do not need a review. We do not need an assessment to tell us that counties Monaghan and Leitrim, the two counties without special schools, need them. We need the plan in place to deliver them as a matter of urgency and we need to implement the comprehensive workforce plan to sustainably staff the health services and end the excruciating waiting lists.

I asked the Minister what she would say to those families today who are in dire circumstances because their children are being denied the services they need right now. They deserve an answer to those very important questions.

See this speech in context