Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1059. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the €8.5 million in additional development measures for children's services will be spent in 2024. [48341/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The funding of €8.5million additional investment in children’s services in Budget 2024 has been allocated to improve children’s services including the recruitment of additional therapy positions, increasing third level places and supports for specialist children’s disability services.

The extra funding comes at a critical juncture and will contribute significantly to the achievement of the objectives set out in the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026.

Budget 2024 will allow for the recruitment of additional therapy assistant positions to bolster Children’s Disability Network Teams with 175 posts targeted by end of 2024.

€2m in funding has been allocated for educational supports to ensure an increased supply of health and social care professionals. Higher Education Institutes are increasing third level HSCP programmes capacity to meet service demands, especially in the development of relevant Masters programmes. This measure will allow eligible staff complete qualify as therapists, increasing opportunities and capacity for services.

Finally, 3m funding has been allocated for Children’s Targeted Services. these are bespoke initiatives designed to provide specialist supports for children with complex needs and their families. The initiatives seeks to address potential gaps in service for children with such needs by augmenting CDNT capacity with centralised supports that can be used by parents and provide a support to CDNTs around the county. Such supports cover issues such as hearing and visual impairment, motor function and dyspraxia. The additional €8.5million funding is supportive and complementary to the efforts of the Roadmap for Service Improvement and will bolster capacity and access for children and families.