Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take both Deputies' points on board and it is an absolute priority. I came from having responsibility for special education and the Minister, Deputy Foley, was Minister for Education. We are now in the Department with responsibility for disability. We have a very clear picture of the need for more therapies, access to therapies and access to assessments. That is at the forefront of the work we are doing. We have a Cabinet committee on disability. Therapy in schools was mentioned. We are going to roll out that pilot to all special schools and eventually into all special classes in mainstream schools as well. That will help with children getting access to those therapies. In the communities with the CDNTs we want that multidisciplinary approach whereby children, if they need to get access to a dietician, physio or whatever, will have access to those therapies. My door is open if there are suggestions about recruitment. We are looking at therapy assistants-----

See this speech in context