I raise the situation of a child in Cork who has been on a priority one waiting list since January 2025 for an augmentative and alternative communication, AAC, assessment and device trial through the HSE. According to the response given to my office, the appointment has been postponed for more than three years, with no clear timeline offered and no interim supports put in place. Without these essential supports, this child is being denied the ability to communicate, learn or participate and may even have to leave mainstream school, where the child has been doing well so far. Without the communication support needed, the situation is impossible. What immediate actions can be taken by the Government to address these delays of up to three years? Will the Minister for Health intervene to ensure priority one is actually treated as being of the first priority? It cannot be the case that priority one means being on a three-year waiting list. The urgency must be applied in practice.

I take the Deputy's point that saying something is a priority but asking someone to wait for three years clearly is not what people would rightly expect. On foot of his raising this issue, I will speak to the Minister directly to ask that she look into the matter and revert directly to him.