Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State was in the Department of Education and Science when I was the Minister in that Department and when this process started. The difficulty is getting the professional staff that will be needed to meet all the requirements that will be shown up by the assessment. One can compel a Government to give a timeframe but, sadly, that timeframe might not be capable of being complied with because the staffing is unavailable.

Senator Kett mentioned that his workplace has been sourcing therapists, physiotherapists and so forth. Has the Government any long-term recruitment plan to secure the people who will be required? When these assessments are produced, people will see the vast array of needs. We know they exist but they will be revealed in a programmed, structured way and the gaps will show between what is needed and what must be provided, including the people who will provide them. Will the Minister of State give consideration to how we will attract personnel to enrol in college and train for these positions and, in turn, entice them into working in the disability sector?