I congratulate the Carlow and Kilkenny groups on their Pride of Place awards. We are very proud of them.

I recently had a meeting with representatives of the HSE on children’s services. All of us identified barriers between the Department of Education and the HSE. There seems to be no communication and the system is overwhelmed. I am wondering about the system model. Most children are waiting for over two years to be assessed. The schools are now putting pressure on parents to provide a diagnosis in order to secure a school place. Some families, as the Minister knows, are lucky enough to be able to go private but others just cannot afford it. I acknowledge that this is a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I am just wondering whether she or another Minister has any update on it. We have all our Ministers here today.

I will be delighted to take it. It is important for the Deputy to know that the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and I are working closely together to ensure that all children can access education through the Department of Health and that it is needs-based. I met the Deputy in the past two weeks to discuss children in her area. In relation to children awaiting assessments of needs, a plan is being devised by community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5 to ensure all children awaiting such an assessment will receive it in a timely manner.