Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)

More than 14,000 children are now waiting for assessment of needs. The Government is breaking its own law for 90% of the assessment of needs that are carried out. They are not carried out within the six months legal timeframe. You have an incredible situation where a 14-year-old, Cara Darmody, feels compelled to sleep outside for 50 hours to fight for the rights of her brothers. She really should not have to and we should have time on the Dáil schedule next week for a joint motion to say the Government and the State are going to stop breaking their legal obligations and provide the funding and resources to ensure every child gets the assessment of needs in the time he or she needs to have it.

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