Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

On behalf of the Labour Party, I express my sympathies with the families of those involved in the car crash in County Donegal yesterday evening.

Yesterday the HSE CEO, Bernard Gloster, revealed that the waiting list for assessments of needs will get worse before it gets better. It is quite clear now that there are over 15,000 children waiting for an assessment of need and a prediction for 25,000 children by the end of this year. This is an absolute scandal and a failure of the State under the obligation of law to carry out these assessments of needs within six months. It is quite clear that the failure of assessments of needs to take place has serious knock-on effects for children, particularly in the area of school places and resources for such schools. This year some parents took to sleeping outside the Department of Education and Leinster House, doing their very best secure extra school places. How is it possible to plan for increased resources, supports and classes if we do not know the needs of the students?

Mr. Gloster said yesterday that outside the assessment of needs, significant challenges are faced particularly with essential therapies and interventions. I acknowledge that extra classes have been made available this year which is to be welcomed. My questions are as follows. Will extra capacity be provided to the HSE? If so, what is it? Will legislation be reformed to complete assessments of needs more quickly? How does the Government plan on opening extra classes and providing resources for schools if we do not know the needs?

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