On Tuesday, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality announced that there is to be a complete overhaul of the assessment-of-need process, which, we can all agree, is absolutely not working. Some 18,000 young children are on the waiting list. That is evidence of how ineffective the system is. The announcement was made with no consultation with education staff and there is little or no detail for either education or clinical staff. The timing of the announcement coincided with research from Dublin City University, DCU, on education provider burnout. It comes at a time when parents are still fighting to get an appropriate school place for their children and for assessments of need. Even if they get them, they are then fighting to get the services they are supposed to get. These children are without services, supports and appropriate school places. They are not thriving. They are basically surviving. What the announcement has done is put fear and frustration in the hearts and minds of school staff, parents and children. What the children deserve is support, respect and an appropriate education. Will the Minister tell me how that will be achieved and guaranteed?

Sentiment score: -0.08