Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. Now, where am I? My train of thought is gone.

There are a large number of children with special needs in this school awaiting this service, which we all have to agree is unacceptable at this day and age.

Dáithí will be six years old in March, in a few weeks. His parents say that watching him make an effort to talk to his parents, siblings and grandparents is soul-destroying. He gets upset, annoyed and anxious - I have witnessed this in other cases as well - when he is not able to express and tell them what he wants. Parents know the situation here. If Dáithí got the help he needs, his parents think he would change.Not only Daithí but all children in his situation deserve that chance. His parents feel let down and that he should be getting this help. It is a long time since last June.

I am asking the Minister of State to look at this case to see whether the vacant position can be filled. The person who previously had that role moved on to something else. My understanding, which the Minister of State can correct if I am wrong, is that another person was going to take the position but decided not to at the last minute. The problem is not that the money is not there but there seemingly is some problem with filling the vacancy. It is really distressing for children like Daithí and many others. I know the Minister of State will put her heart and soul into addressing this issue. I do not know what information she can give me this morning but we must do everything we can to sort this out for those children and their parents.