Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)

Any parent will say that if they discover or suspect their child has developmental difficulties, the first thing they will want to do is find out what the problem is. Second, they will want fix it. Here again, we have another crisis, which is on a long list of crises under the current Government.

As Members will have heard earlier, the number of children languishing on a waiting list is now more than 15,000, and it is anticipated, according to the speaking note received from the Minister, that it will be 25,000 by the end of the year. Many parents and children are becoming increasingly desperate. Some parents, if they can afford it and because their children have been waiting so long, fork out the €2,500 or a sum to that effect to have a private assessment, but what about the people who cannot afford or who do not have access to those kinds of funds? They are pleading with anyone who will listen for some sort of reprieve.

I pay tribute to Cara Darmody and members of her campaign team, including Mr. Thomas Ryan, who is in the Gallery. We should not have circumstances in which Cara and campaigners in support of her must come from Clonmel and Ardfinnan and stand in the rain outside Leinster House. Under the 2005 Disability Act, children are entitled to an assessment of their educational health needs within six months, but only 7% of assessments were completed within the timeframe set out in the Act. I am not surprised, however, because dozens of people come to my office in this regard. The issue is probably next in line to that of housing, which see people come to my office daily.

Just this week, we heard from Maria, whose son has been on a waiting list for a staggering 22 months. He has many sensory issues and is often overwhelmed by sensory overload and has to leave the classroom setting. Again, Maria is a worried mother anxious about what is wrong with her child. She needs to find out what exactly it is so it can be fixed.

Without this essential support, her son is forced to miss out on a proper education and time with his peers. An autism unit is due to open at the school in Ardfert next September, but without the assessment this boy will be locked out. Maria's son is desperately worried that September will roll around and this will remain exactly where it is.

The Government must take emergency action and implement a Cara's fund, including a workforce plan to deal with this issue.

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