We are two and a half years into the programme for Government yet the transfer of specialist disability services from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has still not taken place.

We understand that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is behind the delay. As a consequence, the Minister for Health will no longer deal with matters relating to disability services and budgets for which he says he is no longer responsible. Nor will the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, until the transfer of functions has been completed. Shamefully, the additional funding for disability services announced in September's budget cannot be spent until the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform signs off on it. Disability services are just two weeks away from year end. We are experiencing the coldest winter in years as well as ever-increasing operational costs. Will the Minister commit to finally signing off on the financial governance arrangements needed to finalise the transfer before he leaves office this week? If he does not, there are services that will simply not be in a position to open safely in January.

The Government agreed yesterday that the formal transfer of functions will happen on 1 March 2023. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, will be the lead for all disability services. I can assure the Deputy that right across Government the pressing issues are being addressed, particularly in areas such as children's disability services. Given the fact that waiting lists have gone up since the court ruling on assessment of need happened, it is a top priority. There is a new strategy being finalised. We will be dedicating a lot of resources and attention to hiring the therapists we need in the children's disability teams to get these children the care they need.