For years now, the Irish State has in effect been abusing disabled children because State neglect has been continual. We all know assessments of need are essential. Imagine that children are regressing and that when they should be learning to speak properly, integrating and getting an education, they are being prevented from accessing services. We all know that practically all parents who can afford it raise money and pay for everything privately. Some 18,000 children are overdue an assessment of need, and the backlog is increasing. For three quarters of the year, only 4,500 assessments were done, so the number of children overdue an assessment will keep going up. Under the waiting list initiative taken last year, the State paid €23 million to carry out 6,373 assessments, which means a cost of €3,500-plus per assessment of need. The reason is that we do not have enough permanent staff. We do not have them because of the housing and cost-of-living crises, which mean professionals, including teachers and others, are all being forced to emigrate. This is going to continue owing to the announcement today that two people need an income of €150,000, or up to that, to be able to afford a two-bedroom apartment. This is all related to the fact that although there has been a budget surplus in this country, the State has refused to invest it in public services, including housing. The care system and children are suffering as a result. Dublin West has the longest waiting lists, not that it is a competition. In the Blakestown CDNT area, the waiting list was seven and a half years, if the Minister of State can imagine that. A child is almost ageing into adulthood by the time he or she is assessed. I believe the period is now down to 72 months. Yippee. Again, the reason for the delay is that there is insufficient investment in staff to reduce the numbers on the lists. It is shocking that this has been allowed to continue year upon year. I salute the motion.

Sentiment score: -0.10