Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Tipperary Volunteer Centre. We will maybe meet them all again in two weeks at the all-Ireland hurling final. I cannot say, "Up Tipp" or "Up Cork". I am going to try to be neutral but I think people know where my heart is.

On the issue of assessments of need, we set up a special Cabinet subcommittee on disability, which met yesterday. There has been progress on the increase in numbers on CDNTs and significant progress on the school-based therapy service for special schools. The Minister for public expenditure has allocated funding for the next school year beginning in September. On assessments of need, and I said this, there will be a change in the legislation to prioritise access for children with special needs to services. It will be a priority that they get access to services straightaway. That legislation has to take place to resolve this, as well as utilising whatever capacity is in the system. I know that Cara Darmody has met with the HSE and with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler.

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