I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Ta píosa páipéir i mo lámha anseo. It is a letter from the HSE in reply to a question I put down to the Minister for Health about a seven year old boy whose parents are seeking an appointment with the autistic spectrum disorder, ASD, service in Athenry. I will refer briefly to a couple of lines from it. The letter stated that it wished to advise that the boy was referred to the Galway-Roscommon ASD service in Athenry by Roscommon early intervention services on 13 August 2019 and placed on the intervention waiting list. He is currently 193rd on that waiting list. It stated also that the Galway-Roscommon ASD service does not provide a prioritisation system other than the date referred to the service and that at this time the Galway-Roscommon ASD service cannot provide a date for the commencement of intervention support for him.

Both the parents and I made more inquiries. The family of this seven year old boy has been told it will possibly be four years before he can get any treatment. If the Minister for Health is watching this on his monitor, would he please deal with this case? This is utterly shameful. Can the Tánaiste intervene?

I simply do not have enough information on this case to make an informed answer. It sounds like a very difficult case. I will pass it on to the Minister for Health.