Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

To meet the occupational therapy needs of children at Claddagh national school, it must privately hire and fundraise for a therapist at the rate of €625 per day. Given that autistic children have severe communication and behavioural needs, the situation is criminal. Senator O'Toole is shouting from the back row for this crucial reason. Both he and I know that until the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act is implemented, children's needs will not be met by law. I would not be surprised were their parents and teachers to bring lawsuits against the Government and the State, which includes the Cathaoirleach, me and every taxpayer.

We are facing a significant problem. The Minister of State, who I know from his time on the Joint Committee on Health and Children, has a heart. The problem lies with the fact that the HSE is the provider of therapy services for schools. The services should be provided through the Department of Education and Science in the school setting. This decision must be made and resources should follow the child by right. Where a child has speech therapy services, for example, critical school time is lost in transporting him or her back and forth.