Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I want to raise a number of issues on the record. As I stated, I intend to raise this repeatedly because this is a developing situation.

In the experience of my constituent no contact has been made between the Department of Education and Skills and the school involved. I am sure there will be direct contact in that regard with the Department of Education and Skills in that the schools received no advice in that regard.

The single point of contact in the HSE in terms of medical services is important, but it is also necessary between the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills from a policy point of view in terms of the information that is sought from across Europe. I do not know whether there are any Ministers of State serving the two Departments anymore. The HSE has agreed to facilitate the request on that pan-European issue, but I want to see more happening on it because there are procedures in place, as I understand it, from a debate here on rare diseases.

I do not think there has been mention of a document to issue shortly, apart from the memorandum to Government. What is of immediate practical concern, apart from the medical treatment, is that any information the Government has that could be of help to the individuals would be provided. We can understand legal advice and such information is not an issue, but if there is information within the Department that can be of assistance, then the parents want to know about it at the earliest opportunity.