Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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190. To ask the Minister for Health the discussions he has had with the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs and Education and Skills with regard to the increasing length of time children are waiting for assessments of needs and access to early intervention in the case of disability; if consideration has been given to a strategy across all three Departments that will see disabled and vulnerable children receiving the intervention, supports and resources they need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6987/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The Department of Health is at any given time engaged in a number of cross departmental initiatives, programmes and strategies that all serve to improve services and outcomes for children with additional needs in a range of settings.

In relation to Assessment of Need specifically , this process is focused on providing an assessment of Health Needs for children and it is therefore a matter solely for this Department and the HSE.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.