Cara Darmody latest success a credit to the young campaigner
- Minister Rabbitte must make good on her Budget commitments for autism services
Labour’s Alan Kelly has expressed his congratulations to Cara Darmody, autism services campaigner, on receiving 97% in maths in the Leaving Cert.
Deputy Kelly said:
“Cara Darmody has been a fantastic campaigner for autism services for her brother. A Tipperary native, she joined us in the Labour Party in pushing the Government to address the huge backlogs in assessments for autism and disability services.
“Today, she becomes the youngest person to pass Leaving Cert maths – at only 12 years’ old. She is an absolute credit to herself and to her family. She has worked so hard on her academics whilst also pushing for change for autism services. 97% in Maths is a feat for anyone, and I want to really congratulate Cara today.
“The Labour Party has campaigned for better access to autism services for the last three years, and the Darmody’s have stayed with us all the way through. Working with Cara and her family, we have met with the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste and with the Chief Executive of the HSE where Cara has articulated what changes need to happen.
“In response to a Labour Party motion in the Dáil in May, Minister Anne Rabbitte made a significant contribution and confirmed that she would take up the policy approach of allowing private treatment for children with disabilities to be recouped from the State.
“Minister Rabbitte said that if the six planned regional assessment teams are not set up by 1st August to tackle the enormous assessment of needs waiting lists, she will bring Labour’s proposals for covering costs to the Budget.
“No child should have to wait for an assessment of need but unfortunately as it stands, thousands of children are. She has to make good on this commitment to Labour, the Darmody’s and anyone awaiting assessments of needs.
“Huge congratulations to the activis and campaigner Cara Darmody today.”