Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

I listened carefully when the Taoiseach said the issue is not one of resources but one of capacity. Then he threw out a number of hypothetical ways in which capacity could be addressed. However, the Government has not done anything to address capacity. I sat yesterday in my own constituency with two desperate mothers who are desperate to get school places for their children. The Taoiseach spoke about school places. The failure of the Government on school places for children with additional needs is shameful.

The two mothers asked me, "Why does the Government not upskill us?" Why do we not use the resource of all those parents who have fought so hard for so long and had to struggle so hard to get places, therapies and assessment of needs in the first place for their children. Let us look at a programme of upskilling. That is what they are telling me. Otherwise, the Government will continue to fail.

I am looking at the letter Deputy Kelly got. It said 7% of assessment of needs were carried out within the timeframe. That is a 93% failure rate. That is shocking. Will the Taoiseach meet Cara Darmody today? Will he hear from her the constructive proposals she has based on her own lived experience in her own family on what his Government can constructively do to address that capacity shortfall?

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