Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has said additional supports are available in schools, but supports are needed before children start school. She has also maintained that therapy services are available through primary care teams, but, in reality, primary care teams are not present on the ground. The Minister of State has said the funding of organisations such as the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland is under active and ongoing consideration. In that context, I ask her to commit to meeting the association in the context of the service plan for 2014. It is out on a limb and receives no official support. It is providing a great service and taking a lot of pressure off the Department of Health and the HSE. The fact that a considerable number of people with dyspraxia end up in prison is significant in the context of preventive health care. Having said that, some members of the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland are among the most intelligent people in Ireland and all they need is a little help and early intervention.