Today, parents from Ireland, including our Labour Councillor Ali Field, are travelling to Brussels to present a petition to the European Parliament and institutions asking them to investigate Ireland's failure to meet its legal obligations to children with additional needs. Under the Disability Act 2005, every child in Ireland is entitled to an assessment of need within six months. However, more than 21,700 children are now on waiting lists, overdue for assessments of need. The average wait time is two years and many parents, having battled for the assessments of need, are now battling for appropriate school places, therapies and supports. The Government's record is abysmal. Families are being dragged through the courts, trying to have their children's basic needs met and there is the breaking of our own laws on this. It is a national embarrassment that families and parents have been forced to travel to the European institutions in Brussels today to present a petition on behalf of their children. On behalf of Councillor Ali Field and the parents, what is the Government's response?

Sentiment score: -0.14