Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Senator Terry made the very pertinent point that there is a gap between the statement of assessment and the service statement. That unmet need can only be put right as resources become available. There is the difficulty that it will not be possible to be clear with people as to how long the service will take until it becomes available. The Government has been quite open and honest with the disability sector about this difficulty and I think it has been accepted that all services cannot be delivered forthwith. With the review procedure, if someone's personal circumstances change or when additional resources become available, as they will each year, that person's service statement can be reviewed. Clearly, the liaison officer can provide for the services that are required. That can be done on the basis of improving resources and as the situation changes.

The Senator is correct that it will not be possible to give clear timescales as to how long it will take services to become available for unmet needs. The Government has established its position on this issue. We have taken the practical approach of identifying the aggregate unmet needs. The idea is to plan the services to meet those unmet needs and build up the capacity to provide the services on a planned basis. That is the only practical and sensible way to meet the requirements of the individual which are in the assessment statement. As Senator Kett properly pointed out, the provision of those services will then become a matter for service planning and resource provision in coming years.