Departmental Legal Cases
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-17
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Emer Higgins (FG), Dublin Mid-West

Children are waiting too long, absolutely, and it is not good enough. What has got us here is the increase in demand. That is due partly to changing demographics, and that is a good thing, but it is also due to more awareness within families and among parents exercising their right. Parents - I am sure the Deputy is the same - do not want to know the why; they want to know what we are doing. The only way to fix this is to change things, and that means reform. We are bringing in legislative reform, policy reform and budgetary reform. From a legislative perspective, the Minister, Norma Foley, and I brought to Cabinet this week a Bill on the assessment of need, which will be debated in this House next week. It is about making the approach more efficient, more effective and more standardised. From a policy perspective, the HSE is introducing a single point of access and the new autism protocol and pathways initiative. From a budgetary reform perspective, as well as building capacity within the system, we are investing. This year alone we invested €20 million in the wait list initiative. To be frank and honest about this, however, it will take time. These changes will make things better for families and children in this situation but it will not happen overnight. We need to invest in these reforms if we are to change things, and that is something the Minister and I are determined to do - to change things for these families.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-17