Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also want to support the comments made by Senator Malcolm Byrne yesterday on the increase in cases being brought to the High Court in respect of assessments of needs. I support the call for a debate on the issue. Both the HSE and the Minister have attended the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism, and the reality is that people are waiting over two years on assessments of needs. Indeed, they are lucky if they get an assessment within two years. The legislation states that children or young people are entitled to an assessment, but there is no provision for an entitlement to a service and access to supports. It is something that needs to be looked at. There are too many children who are not getting interventions at an early age. That is limiting their possibilities in later life. We must get to the stage where early intervention means early intervention.