Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I feel inadequate reading a reply to the Senator and Kelly-Marie this morning. I am told that St. Michael's House has assured the HSE that it is striving to improve waiting times experienced by some children. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, at the behest of the Tánaiste, is committed to making changes and improving the situation.

As the Senator knows, a number of initiatives are being taken to address the list. They include webinars, which he referred to. They are perhaps not adequate in some cases. They include workshops, advice clinics and group interventions. St. Michael's House has also allowed access to a new support plan for families, with accredited guides, packs, videos and webinars covering a range of topics. However, the fundamental point here is that the Government has committed to recruitment and retention of staff, which is a challenge, for posts in the 93 CDNTs, which provide supports for 42,000 children. The Government has provided a 17% increase in staff, with an additional 272 staff in 2024. Ongoing recruitment issues are being addressed but it is important to understand that the HSE disability budget for 2025 has grown to €3.2 billion, which is an 11.6% increase.

I conclude by being sensitive to the case the Senator raised, to the family and to the matters which he has raised previously in the House. This matter is a priority for the Government and for the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton. I will work with Members of the House and the Senator to ensure that Government is held to account for this. He referred to reiterative failure. I do not disagree with him in many cases. I think he is right. The one thing I disagree on is that many of us do put a value on and cherish all of our children equally. There is a system failure or if not a system failure, then whatever it is, there is a significant need and void that we need to fill. The Senator knows that my sincerity on this matter is genuine, as his is. I will work with him to ensure that Eve Lynne and her family get the best outcome following this Commencement matter. I will work with the Senator and other families, as many of us in this Chamber do daily. We have a huge challenge. When Senator Rabbitte was Minister of State in the Department, she did significant work and should be credited for that. We have to bring the system further on the road. I look forward to working with the Senator.