Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 7, before section 3, to insert the following new section:

3.—Where both the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children have joint roles under a provision of this Act, they shall establish a central body with responsibility for the co-ordination of education and health services in these areas.".

The Minister of State has dealt with this issue already. He mentioned greater joined-up thinking regarding his responsibilities in justice, health and education. On the other hand he also mentioned a division of responsibilities. This is important and all of us know of the delays which have occurred over the years with the Department of Education and Science depending on the Department of Health and Children and the health boards, for assessments and for any services for which they were responsible or which were requested by either inspectors or departmental officials.

The substance of this amendment would co-ordinate the efforts of the Departments of Education and Science and Health and Children. My preference is for the co-ordination to occur under the auspices of the Department of Education and Science. Some of the bodies which made submissions clearly indicated that that Department would have responsibility for co-ordinating those efforts.

A parent who suddenly realises his or her young child has special needs experiences great trauma. He or she then has to hassle the Department of Health and Children for basic entitlements, never mind rights, which is a daunting experience. Moving on a few years, when the child is at school going age the parents have to take on the Department of Education and Science. I read into the record the delays people have experienced in getting assessments. The average wait is six and a half months, while a quarter of those involved wait nine months. Some must wait as long as five years. That causes great difficulties for young children with special needs who are receiving education. The delay is crucial and is having a serious effect down the line. It also relates to the section we dealt with earlier. Ordinary parents who are confronted with that difficulty will have to deal with two different Departments. For example, a family that had emigrated, returned home two years ago with three children, two of whom required special assistance. They went to the local national school and an assessment was requested but the principal could not obtain one at that time. In November 2003, the children's mother wrote to the relevant section in the Department of Education and Science. To date, however, she has not even received an acknowledgement from the Department, let alone a reply as to what it intends to do. This mother has had to seek an assessment privately. That assessment was sent to the Department subsequently but was never acknowledged. In the absence of a statutory provision by the Department of Education and Science, that parent went about the process but failed to achieve anything.

From now on, we must co-ordinate the efforts of the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science, under the auspices of the latter Department. The endeavours and expertise of both Departments must be combined. The Minister of State should include the new section in order to eliminate the hardship experienced by many parents, as well as the delays and difficulties faced by their children. Where such difficulties can be eliminated, the Minister of State should act to do so.