Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I fully support the call for a debate on this issue. I was talking to a number of colleagues about it before lunch and I found the programme very troubling. The Minister of State's comments were beyond belief, in that he is trying to shove the blame onto consultants. I am as critical of consultants as any of us, but I do not believe anyone has until now subscribed to the view that they would deliberately keep people waiting in order to make themselves feel important. The idea that consultants would make children of primary school age wait four or five years to make themselves feel important is an outrageous assertion by the Minister of State. He should correct it, since I do not believe for one minute that it could be true. If it is, then our sense of outrage will be even greater. The Minister of State should come to this House and talk to us. We have had this debate before.

For the past five years Members have raised the shortage of therapists of every kind in this House and in committees. I refer to occupational therapists, speech therapists and physiotherapists. These shortages pertain to a lack of college places and the non-recognition of therapists who gained their qualifications in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, neither of which helps us to make progress.

In respect of the issue raised by Senator Brian Hayes regarding psychologists, in the past four or five years the Department has been interviewing people for the post of educational psychologist. I understand it has a ready-made waiting list of up to 50 fully qualified psychologists who are willing to take up duty and whom it could appoint at any time. This is quite appalling. As the Exchequer received €10 billion last month, surely no one who watched the suffering of those children would argue about such spending.

The children in question, along with their parents, are still in the same position. Perhaps they are struggling at school or may be queuing outside some consultant's waiting room. It is appalling that this should be allowed to continue. The Leader's arrangement of such a debate to take place before Christmas would show a great response to a topical matter and all Members would welcome it. Everyone has views on this issue and Members could give some comfort and solace to those parents and others who appeared on last night's programme, to the unseen thousands and to teachers and school boards trying to cope with this issue.