Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I call into question the role of the Department of Health and Children on the issue. I know of a case where a NEPS psychologist recommended support for a student and a psychiatrist from the Department of Health and Children did likewise. However, that student did not receive the support that was needed, when it was needed. I was please to hear the Minister say the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science are discussing this issue and trying to deal with it in a joined-up way. The lack of joined-up planning and thinking, which does not only relate to education, means that teachers, schools, students and families must pay the price, as appropriate therapies and approaches are denied. In that context, education delayed is education denied. This problem should not be laid entirely at the feet of the Minister and perhaps she has found a lever for progress by ensuring both Departments now work together on the issue.

If a school fund raises and pays for a psychological assessment for a child, at least then it has a label to work with and some idea as to what type of education the child would benefit from. However, this leads back to the issue of access to services. We must evaluate whether we are training enough specialists to cater for the needs that exist, as well as whether there will be funding levels sufficient to meet demand. These are issues for the Departments of Health and Children and Finance and we cannot let them abdicate any responsibility in this regard.

I know, from a geographical point of view, that there can be difficulties in attracting professional staff, as is the case in my own area. That has repercussions within the health service itself, as well as in broader areas such as in the provision of speech, occupational and other therapies. With regard to the arts therapies, we do not even have the professional qualification recognition that would enable people to be paid at an appropriate level. Such issues must be tackled.

I ask the Minister to evaluate the work of the new National Council for Special Education and that of the special needs assistants. The council has been operational for only a short time but valuable lessons can already be learned. We must ensure that where things are not working well between schools and specialists, there is an appeals mechanism that is completely independent. The Minister alluded to such an appeals mechanism in her speech.

I have seen an enormous level of improvement in services from the time of my initial introduction to politics. However, the difficulty for parents is that their child is a child of his or her time. Time does not stand still and the child's chance is now. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the better the chance that interventions will have maximum effect. Our goal must be to assess early, have specialists trained and recognised in order to embrace as many new scientific approaches as are available at any point in time. This is likely to result in a number of good interventions.

I congratulate the Government on the success achieved to date but add my voice to the quest for those who are special in our communities to be cherished by our communities. I also ask that those who face the challenges of coping with the specialness of their new baby are given support, and not hurdles, as they struggle through those very important early years. All children deserve support, particularly those under six, who have not been focused on strongly in Ireland to date. That is true across the board, not just in the area of special needs.

Early investment will save euros in the future, if one is to look at the issue impersonally and coldly. However, I have found the children of whom we speak today are far from impersonal and cold. I look forward to the positive changes that will be embraced in the next decade and wish the Minister well in her difficult role. I reiterate the fact that there have been significant improvements, with which I am very impressed.