Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

It is argued that parents can secure services privately. One cannot get access to private services. Last year, the parents of a child in Dublin who is waiting for an appointment to see an ophthalmic paediatrician and a psychiatrist had to pay €3,310 to have a private assessment of the child carried out. This year, they expect to pay €4,500 to access the service. Is this the type of education system over which the Minister of State wishes to preside? It is an indictment of those in charge of it. Perhaps we may only have to wait some weeks, however, before it is brought to an end.