Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and welcome the fact that three development posts have been allocated. I have spoken about a postcode lottery and there is even a stark difference within the county of Kildare. I spoke recently to a mum whose family relocated from north Kildare to south Kildare. In north Kildare, her daughter was receiving all the different therapies she needed but following the move to south Kildare, she has not received anything in the space of 12 months. That is simply not good enough. Of course, these are not isolated cases.

In CHO 7, which covers south Kildare, there are 752 children waiting six to 12 months for initial contact. According to the statistics, 1,484 children are waiting more than 12 months, which is shocking. These are damning statistics. These are children with complex additional needs in their formative years and they and their parents will never get that time back. We must deal with this and ease the pressure on services so we can support these children and their families.