Disability services in south Tipperary are falling apart at the seams. I have raised the issue of the catastrophic vacancies in the CDNT teams. There is a large number of vacancies and children are suffering. They are waiting years for the most vital basic disability services. This is the case for all services for children. Scoil Aonghusa, Cashel, is full to the brim. Two mothers in Clonmel, Sabrina and Stephanie, are so frustrated they are organising a rally tomorrow at the Main Guard in Clonmel. Countless families have been waiting four, five and six years. Many people are worried because they cannot get school places in special schools or special units for September. It will be a worry all through the summer. They have no place to go. They might have to keep their children back in preschool for an extra year. It is very frustrating and irritating. We need the vacancies filled urgently.

There is an issue with disability services and CDNT teams. My view is that the progressing disability programme has not worked. The progressing disability policy was announced in 2013 and it simply has not worked and we need to change it. I have been working with the HSE and various education and equality bodies. Parents and children cannot wait any longer. This should not impede the provision of school places and, to be fair, the NCSE with the Department of Education have expanded classrooms, special classes and special schools. We need to make sure that every child gets a place next September. I will take it on board. If there are particular children I will go back to the Department of Education and we will see what we can do urgently to get places for children with special needs in the appropriate settings for them.