One of my first contributions in this House as a TD was on this topic of the assessment of need and early interventions. In the time since, countless parents have contacted me to tell me that they are still waiting beyond the statutory timeframes for an assessment of need and for the supports their children require. We simply cannot continue to have a system where delay is normal and compliance with statutory timelines is an exception. We must deliver the necessary supports for these children on time and without delay. It is the least the children and their families deserve. I welcome the reforms announced by the Minister today and I hope they will deliver a significant and immediate improvement in the system. Families and children cannot be expected to wait for the supports they are entitled to or be forced to get a report privately. This creates inequity, undermines trust and is deeply unfair. I got a reply to a parliamentary question earlier this year showing a demonstrable difference between people getting assessments of need on the northside and on the southside of this city. Many of my constituents cannot afford this nor can they afford to hire a solicitor when the statutory timeframe has been passed. They should not be expected to carry this burden. A child's future should not depend on the family's ability to pay. Early intervention is vital for these children. The HSE tells us this, the clinicians tell us this and the parents know it. However, families are exhausted and early intervention is more of an aspiration than a reality. Each day without these supports closes developmental windows and puts unnecessary pressure on families. The system must be fast, meaningful and actionable. The system must assess children within the statutory timeframe - not occasionally, not in exceptional cases, but in each and every case. Critically, the system must restore the link between assessment and intervention. The children have enormous potential and have so much to offer our society. It is our responsibility that the system should allow them to flourish rather than hold them back. We must deliver assessments faster, provide supports sooner and ensure that no child is left behind. I urge the Minister of State to place equity and fairness at the heart of this reform. We cannot accept in a republic that a child's needs are not assessed on time and that the supports they so urgently need are not accessible. I ask her to ensure that every child, regardless of background or circumstances, has timely assessment, a clear pathway to interventions and access to the support they are entitled to.

Sentiment score: 0.11