Mattie McGrath: Urges emergency action on disability assessment backlog

The crisis surrounding the assessment of needs process for children with disability is not just under severe strain, it is a system in breach of its legal obligations, leaving thousands of children without access to vital supports they are entitled to by law. This should be a national emergency, what we are doing to young children and families is criminal and the HSE are being allowed to breach the law for years with no repercussions. Under Disability Act 2005, children are supposed to receive an assessment of needs within six months of application, yet we know it is not happening. Families are waiting years, during which time children miss vital windows for intervention, development and care. This is not just a delay, it is a denial of rights, a denial of equal opportunity and a denial of childhood in many cases. Parents are exhausted, they are forced to become full-time advocates, legal experts and indeed campaigners, just to get their children what they are entitled to, what is owing to them. In temporary situations particularly dire, as of March this year there were 233 children and young people currently awaiting an autism assessment, while the wait time for assessments for new referrals is 48 months. That is 4 years, it is shocking. Adding to the distress the Government has spent 8 million on legal proceedings against the parents seeking assessment for their children. This is a misallocation of resources that could have been better spent on providing the necessary assessments and supports. We have had report after report, commitment after commitment, and yet the situation continues to deteriorate. I commend Carol Damley, indeed her father and mother, a young girl from Anne Finneran, just beside me, in Tipperary, who has spoken with so many and is stattering her steeper, and has stattered her steeper outside her house. She was given commitments, as were countless other families, but promises mean nothing without delivery. It is time the Government to act decisively. Establish an emergency fund, as proposed in the giant opposition motion, to clear the existing backlog. Set a definite timeline for compliance with legal obligations under the Disability Act. Invest in sustainable solutions, including the recruitment and training of additional staff to meet current and future needs. Indeed, we owe it to these children and their families to uphold their rights and provide the support they need. These rights are enshrined in the Constitution, I point out. We need urgent reform, accountability, and above all, we need to put our children and non-bureaucracy at the centre of this system. Thank you. Thank you, Deputy. Thank you. Thank you very much. You are welcome. Thank you. Let's see.