Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Cathaoirleach will join me in these sentiments shortly. It is my great privilege and pleasure to welcome to the Gallery Mr. Frank Allen, playwright and film scriptwriter, and his niece, Ms Roberts. I had the privilege of teaching at the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, VEC, with Mr. Allen many years ago. It is now the education and training board, ETB. Mr. Allen since wrote Twelve Days in May, a play about the life of James Connolly and his execution and that of the other leaders of the 1916 Rising. The play has won critical acclaim and had full houses for a fortnight in Dublin. He is now in the process of producing a major film with considerable international support. I am a supporter of the arts, as are the Cathaoirleach and Acting Leader. It is great when we have people such as Mr. Allen in our communities. It is great to have him here. The Seanad and the arts have been inextricably linked, down the years.

We are in a reasonably good budgetary situation as we approach the budget. I want to impress on the Acting Leader, and through her on the Government, that we need to address waiting lists for children. Intervention is important. The first waiting list that needs to be addressed and virtually eliminated is the one for child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. If we delay an intervention, we will create a dreadful scenario. The Acting Leader and Cathaoirleach, as former teachers, understand the need for intervention.

I am pleased with the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. She is committed to her Department and proactive. There has been an improvement in children's waiting lists for assessments around autism and various educational disabilities. There have been improvements there but there is a difficulty which needs addressing around delivering the follow-up services. I would like to think the Acting Leader will respond. I would like her to convey to the Government that we need to reduce all waiting lists for children as a priority and move up the demographic thereafter. Children cannot be left waiting for assessments for autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and various educational issues. Those interventions are urgent. They must be quick, timely and comprehensive. I would like a response on that point.

It would be timely, in a pre-budget situation, if the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, came into the House and we discussed the whole area of waiting lists, follow-up to the waiting lists, actioning what is achieved at the assessment stage and putting results in place.