In reply to my leader, the Taoiseach mentioned a speech and language pilot or demonstration project that is being launched in schools and said this would take children off the HSE waiting lists. I ask the Taoiseach to confirm that every child in one of the 75 schools and preschools will be taken off the HSE waiting list and given speech therapy in school. I am concerned because this project has no vision or programme of action and the last line of the press release on it states that in some instances, where children have significant and persistent needs, direct one-on-one support will be provided in preschools and schools for those children. How does that tally with the Taoiseach's statement that children would be taken off the waiting lists in those schools?

It is a pilot scheme so we will have to see how it works out. The real intention is to avoid having to refer children to the HSE in the first place. Children will receive speech and language therapy in schools and preschools, thus avoiding them having to be referred to the HSE and ending up on waiting lists. Perhaps I did not explain it very well earlier.