Longford minor title and child therapy fund
The Cathaoirleach congratulates Senator Carrigy on Longford's win, after which Carrigy praises the under-17 team's victory over Dublin and then welcomes a proposed fund to help families pay for children's assessments and therapies when the State cannot provide them. Brief quips from other Senators are incidental.
Iarraim ar an Seanadóir Carrigy. Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis as an mbua iontach oíche aréir.
Comment on this
I thank the Cathaoirleach. It would be remiss of me, as an avid GAA man, as the Cathaoirleach knows, not to congratulate Longford's under-17 team on its fantastic victory last night in Tullamore. We defeated Dublin to win our fifth Leinster minor title. It was a fantastic display which went to extra time. We stopped the capital city which was looking to win three in a row at that level. Longford is a small but proud county and we bat above our level on numerous occasions and last night was one of those occasions. We secured our fifth minor title in more than 120 years but it is our third in the past 22 years.
It was fantastic to be there in Tullamore with my oldest son and to travel back to Longford for the homecoming celebration outside the courthouse in the town where, over 50 years ago, we welcomed back our 1966 National League-winning team and our 1968 Leinster senior championship-winning team. It seldom happens in a small county but days like yesterday are what the GAA is all about. It is about every county striving for that opportunity to win a title. Last night was one such opportunity and I want to send my congratulations to Enda McGahern, the manager, his management staff, all of the players and their families. They did us proud last night. I am normally 6 ft 2 in, but as I was leaving Tullamore last night I was about 6 ft 5 in. It was a fantastic display and a very proud day for Longford.
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The Senator did not need GAAGO to see it either.
Comment on this
No, it was on TG4 but it is better to go and watch a match live.
I also want to comment on the news emanating from Cabinet with regard to the setting up of a fund similar to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, to support families who have to get an assessment of their child's needs and pay for services such as speech and language therapy or occupational therapy where the State is unable to provide them. This is something that I have been advocating for some time and have raised as a Commencement matter previously. It is also recommendation No. 27 in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism which was published last year. I am delighted to see that the Government, supported by the Taoiseach, has put this fund in place so that we can support families who have to pay for private assessments of need and various therapies where the State cannot provide them. It is a very positive day.