Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for attending this morning. I wish to say "Hello" to my next door neighbour colleague from home, just across the border in Galway, the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte. I appreciate how she really makes an effort to come when we ask her to deal with some of these issues and tries to solve them for us. It is appreciated by me and other people. I know she does not have a magic wand but, by golly, she tries, and that is appreciated.

I wish to take her on a little journey. We will call the boy Dáithí and he attends St. Anne’s National School in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Dáithí was diagnosed with autism in early 2021. He was observed by a speech and language therapist early last year at his school. His parents brought him to it for an individual appointment with the therapist in June 2023. On leaving that appointment, they were of the impression from the therapist that she would be in contact to observe Dáithí in his home environment. His parents tell me that since then, they have heard nothing.

At the end of November 2023, they made contact with the early intervention services for Roscommon as to see what was happening with the therapist. They were informed that no therapist was available and the person they contacted could not tell them if one would be available in the future.

Since Christmas, they have made contact again. There is no therapist available and probably will not be in the near future. I have spoken to staff in the HSE and can confirm that. They have spoken to the school principal and she informed them that along with Dáithí, there is a large number of children with special needs in the school-----