James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate the poor quality health services around the country. Every week brings a new scandal in the health care system. It was brought to my notice that the HSE is now assessing domiciliary care applications that were submitted in 2005. There is a waiting list of almost two years for a decision on applications for domiciliary care allowances. This is nothing short of a scandal as the cost of rearing a child with special needs is higher than the norm. The Government has an obligation to become involved with the HSE and progress those applications.