Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that response. It is certainly good news that therapy can continue through level 5. I had asked the Minister of State to Kildare to meet representatives of KARE and the Muiríosa Foundation. She had committed to doing that during October but the restrictions mean that cannot happen.

When we talk about redeployment, there are two different kinds. We are talking about therapists who are going to, or have gone to, contact tracing and those who went from intervention therapy to assessment therapy. We need to battle this. I want to know when children like Ava will receive the therapies that they absolutely need.

I am still awaiting figures from the HSE to show where we are on assessments and early intervention. I asked a similar question last year and 78% of children in Ireland were waiting more than three months for an initial assessment. That was an absolute disgrace and bad indictment of the system.

I thank the Minister of State for her support but I wish to know when these children, who absolutely need these therapies, will be given the opportunity to recommence them.