Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The response, while welcome, is inadequate. If we look at the situation facing these families, particularly the children, they cannot wait. They cannot be left waiting for months and years for access to basic services and assessments of need. Early intervention is absolutely key in this regard. These families are struggling. I have spoken to them and they have contacted me. I have met them during the election on the doors. The level of stress and anxiety that parents of children with additional needs, disabilities, autism or ADHD experience is unacceptable.

Bringing it back to the children again, every day, week and month of delay in the context of intervention has long-term impacts on those children, reducing their potential and quality of life. We should not accept it. The Minister of State set out the ambition to, for example, introduce specific recruitment and retention initiatives and while they are badly needed, we need to see urgent action on them.

We need staff numbers in CDNTs to be increased and therapies provided. Parents explain that just getting a contact and being told they can be part of a webinar or group workshop is not a service in terms of a therapy their children need. We cannot simply say that this is enough or that it is acceptable. The children and their families need it, so I am calling on the Government to put a greater focus on this and not accept these waiting lists as being tolerable.

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