Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On identifying people with disabilities, I accept that we must ensure that when it is discovered that a child or a new baby has a disability that there are early intervention services available.

Yesterday, I took a debate in the Dáil on the problems in CAMHS. The honest answer is that we are putting more money into the services. I admit that there is a problem recruiting psychologists and clinical teams. Many of our young graduates in psychology, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy emigrated to the UK and around the world over the past seven to nine years, especially those qualified but some of them are beginning to return, which is positive. We have an issue with staff shortages, which are leading to waiting lists.

I am pushing the issue of tackling the shortages at Cabinet level. The Estimates will be discussed over the next couple of weeks and I have support for early intervention services, the recruitment of more staff and supporting those services as one of my top five priorities but I have other priorities.

I have been asked by the Deputy's colleagues to make the issue of a lack of residential places for older people with intellectual disabilities who have elderly parents my number one priority when we discuss the Estimates. At least 400 residential places are needed in 2019 to deal with the issue.

I have listed the Deputy's concerns about access to assessments and tackling waiting lists as one of my priorities. I agree with him that we must respond to the matter.

During the debate on the Estimates, I ask the Deputy to request his party to support me when I negotiate with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for funding.