Mattie McGrath condemns delays in assessments for Cara Darmody
Mattie McGrath criticised delays in statutory assessments for a child, Cara Darmody, saying the HSE and the Department of Health are flouting the Disability Act. He urged immediate action and accountability as the family continues to press for an assessment.
Allegations of legal breaches
The speaker said the law under the Disability Act requires children to be assessed within a minimum amount of time and asked how the HSE and the Department of Health can knowingly and intentionally flout that law. He linked the delays to children with autism and other special needs who are awaiting assessments.
Family circumstances and impact
He described Cara Darmody being brought each week in all kinds of weather by her father while her mother, Noelle, remains at home looking after two young brothers. He said Cara should be out playing, not repeatedly attending government buildings to seek an assessment.
Local connection and ongoing protest
He noted that Cara lives in the next village, Alphenorn, and said the family intend to continue their protest until they see proper movement on assessments. He appealed for sensitivity and for public bodies to be held to account and to observe the law.
Government response and funding pledge
In reply, the Taoiseach said there should be no need for Cara to be waiting at the gates and that he has already met her and will meet her again. He said decisions have been taken with the minister to provide extra funding - about 6.9 million euro - to use private assessments and that work is ongoing to do more on assessments of needs in response to the challenge Cara has presented.
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Tisha, you've met Cara Darmody, I think you've met her a number of times, but it's so unfair with a child that age to have to come up here each week in all kinds of weather with her father and her mother's at home, Noelle, looking after her two young brothers, to look for something that's within the law. And the law says clearly, under the Disability Act, that they have to be assessed within a minimum amount of time. And how can the HSE and the Department of Health flout the law knowingly and intentionally all the time with children with autism and other aspects of special needs as well? So Cara, as we know, should be out, she should be playing and having fun, not here every week. My goodness, how long, and her father has said they're going to keep doing it until they get a proper movement. They've met three former Tishik and many ministers for health, so please, I'm appealing to you. She lives in the next village to me in Alphenorn, and the family do, and it's time that, you know, sensitivity here. And public bodies like to see a health to account and may observe the law. Thank you, thank you. Well, look, certainly there's no need for Cara Darmody to be waiting to see me at the gates of government buildings, because I've already met her in person, and I will meet her again, and I want her to be able to enjoy her somewhere else. I'd want any child to be able to enjoy that. There's obviously very important issues around assessments of needs. Cara's already helped bring about some significant changes, as I just mentioned, with the decision that we already took with Minister Rabbit to provide extra money, about 6.9 million euro, to use private assessments, and we are working to do more on assessments of needs, and indeed to answer the challenge that Cara has put to us. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
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