Cyra Cahill is three years old and is in need of services. Her mother, Charlotte, has spoken out publicly about her because she is desperate to secure those services. Cyra had an assessment of needs last year but there was no psychologist present. As the Taoiseach is aware, the HSE approach to assessment of needs was ruled by the High Court last year to be in breach of the Disability Act 2005. This means the assessment received by Cyra was invalid and she has been put back on the waiting list. Cyra and her mother have been told her assessment of needs will not be completed until 2024. I cannot overstate the desperate state of this child and her mother.

Of course, Cyra is not on her own. More than 4,500 children are currently awaiting assessment. The HSE is legally obliged to provide that assessment within six months, but the average waiting time is 16 months, with many waiting much longer.

What can the Taoiseach say to Cyra? When will the Government fulfil the legal obligation to these children and ensure that they get their assessments within the prescribed timeframe?

Hear, hear.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As I said yesterday, in the context of Cyra and all the other Cyras out there, we have secured €11.5 million to address the backlog relating to assessments of need. We are looking to put in place regional assessment hubs in order to clear the backlog at pace. This will enable children to get a timely intervention. It will also return us to the position set down in the Disability Act, which states that we should work within a six-month timeframe. Furthermore, we know the old assessment of need was not working. We know the preliminary team assessment was challenged in the core system. We have received from the HSE its third iteration. We have sought independent legal advice on this matter, which I hope to be able to publish in the coming weeks.