Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to cover three issues and if I do not get through them in the first round I will return to them. What stands out for me with regard to speech and language therapy, CAMHS and the assessments of needs is that there appears to be a failing across all areas in one healthcare area, CHO 4, which covers Kerry, north Cork, north Lee, south Lee and west Cork. In terms of speech and language therapy, in March this year there were almost 11,000 assessments waiting to be carried out, which was a 5.5% increase from September last year. The good news is that 70% of them are being carried out within four months, which is positive. It is slightly down on last year when it was slightly higher. The bad news, however, is that 28% of children are waiting more than a year for speech and language therapy. Some 50% of all the assessments that are currently outstanding are in the CHO 4 area.

In terms of CAMHS, in March this year there were 2,691 people waiting for assessment, which was a 15% increase since September 2017. Some 14% of them, 386 people, are waiting more than a year. Of those, 55% are in the CHO 4 area. Regarding assessments of needs, in March this year there were 4,242 people waiting for assessments. Of those, 80% are waiting beyond the statutory timeframe of three months. Again, 50% of them are in the CHO 4 area. Clearly this area has issues which need to be addressed. Do the witnesses have any comments on this area within the organisation? It is falling far behind everywhere else across the board in terms of speech and language, CAMHS and assessments of needs. Can the director general tell me the reason? That is my first question.