Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To reply to Deputy Ó Laoghaire and the Deputy, the roll-out of the progressing disability strategy is a policy of the HSE and the Department of Health. Obviously, as Minister with responsibility for special education, I am following this very closely due to the impact it has on special education and on the special schools the Deputy mentioned. The transfer of therapy supports out of schools into the community has caused significant concerns, as the Deputy mentioned among schools and families, particularly when speech and language and occupational therapists have been redeployed by the HSE to priority staff for Covid-19 work. I have met representatives of schools and parents who have expressed these concerns. While it does not come under my remit I have written to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, about it to highlight these concerns and to ask that the roll-out be reviewed also. It has been a particularly difficult year for special education and families and staff who do not want any of these disruptions. I have asked Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to account for this.