Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for coming in. Over the last number of months, I have received many representations from parents in south Kildare who are exhausted trying to get any level of assessment and help for their children. Their loved ones are being put on waiting lists that are getting out of control while the development and needs of these same children are not being addressed. It would seem that, on the back of prolonged delays in assessments of need for families in the area, the HSE decided to redeploy a number of staff to this much-needed resource but this has resulted in unacceptable delays for families whose children were dependent on seeing these specialists or, in the case of some families with whom I am dealing, whose children have moved along the age groups and are now waiting on specialist therapy. The result of these moves seems to be only heartache for families, forcing them to borrow money, if they can, and turn to private practices for assessments, if they can get them, given the importance of early intervention for their children about which everyone tells them. Many families have turned to online support groups where families in similar situations share their experiences and support one another as best they can. All the families I have spoken to do not blame the staff they deal with at the end of the phone or, if they are lucky enough, meet at a clinic. They recognise those still working in the system are doing their very best but cannot cover the gaps in the service that are all too evident for so many families in Kildare.

It is also important, as I think the Minister of State will agree, to allow these families to tell their story. I will take time to outline some of the heartache these families are facing as it is important to put their stories on the record of this House. Last week, I outlined the worries Samantha had for her daughter but today I will tell the House about Aileen. She tells me that at a young age they noticed things were a little different with their youngest daughter. Over time and after many attempts and calls, she received a phone call from a primary care doctor who said her daughter's needs could not be met by them and that the network disability team, NDT, would be needed as her loved one was non-verbal and showing signs that could indicate autism. She filled in and sent off every form required and still has not even been given an assessment officer. Her application was received on 16 November 2020. From the few people who have answered Aileen, she has heard she is facing a wait of 12 to 14 months, probably longer due to the impact of Covid-19. Meanwhile, she says, all her family can do is fumble along blindly, not knowing how to help her youngest child. She asked me if I had any idea how heartbreaking it is to watch one's young child struggle so much and not know how to help, not be able to communicate her needs and have a system that leaves her in the dark with no support or guidance. Aileen says she and her husband are sleep-deprived, heartbroken for their little one and seriously struggling to figure out ways to make her world adapt to her child. She said they need help, support and guidance.

Another lady I am dealing with, Nicola, says the HSE diagnosis for her daughter is that she needs intervention for occupational therapy, speech and language, psychology and physiotherapy. Her daughter has now been discharged from the early years team onto the school age team but she is still waiting for her custom and fitted shoes. The day her moulds were taken for them she received a phone call in the car park outside as she was strapping her daughter in to say they were discharging her to the school age team. She asked who would be her point of contact and was told there was none. She asked if she receive a letter about the transition from one team to the other and was told they do not do that and that she would not hear from the school age team unless she contacted it to tell it her daughter needed something. Her email to me read:

When your child has significant needs you think that being accepted by the likes of the NDT will be the turning point, you think it will be the beginning of the intervention your child needs so desperately and absolutely deserves. Well, I thought wrong, we are in this alone. We pay €80 for under an hour of Occupational Therapy as there's no choice but to do this.

She finished by saying that she did not have any fight left in her.

I am sure the Minister of State has been made aware of similar cases. I could give her many other examples of what families are facing and how they are desperate for answers for their loved ones. Solutions must be found. There is a generation of young children not getting early intervention. I hope the Minister of State can bring something to them that will make a difference and allow their families to breathe once again.