I thank the Ceann Comhairle for letting me in again. I raise the issue of child and adolescent mental health services in Cork. In response to a parliamentary question I asked two weeks ago, which might give an indication of how bad things are, I was told that in 2020, 435 people aged 18 years or under were on the waiting list; in 2021, there were 645; in 2022, there were 901; in 2023, there were 1,362; and, unfortunately, in 2024, there were 1,905. Clearly, things have spiralled in the wrong direction over a number of years. At what point does this become a crisis in local psychiatric services in Cork?

Sentiment score: -0.20

25. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [5903/25]

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I wish to raise the issue of the need for a special school in Cork. Like many other public representatives in Cork, I welcomed the announcement in October, before the election, by the then Minister, Deputy Foley, that we would get a special school in Cork, albeit in an undisclosed location that was subject to negotiation. Fast forward five months and I know from talking to people on the ground that no progress has been made in acquiring a site for this building to open in September. No time is being allowed between now and then to refurbish the existing building. It cannot be delivered by next September. We gave people a commitment that a special school would open in September 2025 and I just cannot see at this point in time how it will be done. I ask that this matter be treated with urgency and that the Department of Education told to get its act together to source the building or the site and get on with delivering the special school.

Sentiment score: 0.34

This is an existing-----

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