I commend the amazing strength and determination of Cara Darmody. Her continued campaign brings her back to the Dáil for 50 hours this week in a miserable, cold December. Unfortunately, I think she will be given the same promises that other Ministers have given her previously. I genuinely hope they are not false promises. Why do I call these false promises? The fact Cara has come back to camp outside Kildare Street again is not because she enjoys sitting outside in the freezing cold, in the wind and rain, but because this Government has failed and failed again. It is a bit like the housing plan we were talking about last week. There is another new Minister and another new plan. The CDNTs have failed to provide adequate support for our children who need supports. I coach a group called the falcons in St. Peregrines. It is just a group of parents who are coaches. We do our best to provide some fun and a chance for the kids to play and meet each other. I meet those parents all of the time. I know the hurt, pain, stress and anxiety they go through because the waiting list for the CDNT for Blakestown is 72 months. They get the assessments but where are the supports they require? They are virtually non-existent. The CDNT acknowledges that it is short-staffed and loses staff after a few months. Unfortunately, that means the process has to start all over again when these staff have built up relationships. The parents do not want hear any more reasons for this. They just want the problem solved. They want the supports they and their children need when they need it. Imagine the outrage in society if a child went to Temple Street or the new children's hospital and the doctors said they could not fix the child's broken leg because it did not have the staff, so the child should come back in 72 months. It would bring the Government down. If it is unacceptable for young people in that case, why is it not unacceptable for children with different abilities and specific needs? We need to stop the excuses and end the waiting lists. Those children need that support and they need it now.

Sentiment score: -0.01