Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am again raising the unacceptable delays children with additional needs in Cavan and Monaghan have in getting appropriate follow-up treatment following an assessment of need. There are long and inappropriate delays in children obtaining therapy such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and physiotherapy. We all know very well of the absolute importance of early intervention to support these children. We were told that there would be a robust international campaign to try to recruit therapists. There is a problem with recruitment and retention. I know that there is a massive vacancy rate for therapists in the children's disability network team in Cavan and similarly in Enable Ireland. We need more therapists and more timely interventions for such children. Nowadays, unfortunately, too many families are having to source treatment from private sources, which is impacting on their household income. That is driving more people to go into private practice, so we are losing those therapists from the public service.

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