Ms Natalya Jackson:

Speaking on the progressing disability services, many networks reconfigured only in October, moving from the unidisciplinary to the multidisciplinary model and that family centred practice. There has been good progress on working with the HSE and other lead agencies, and I acknowledge that. It is about equity of access for children also. What that has resulted in though, from the mapping exercise, there are some networks that have increased from maybe 900 children up to what they thought might be 1,300 children and now might be 1,800 children. That exercise is ongoing to see what resources are needed. Significant funding was received and recently another 100 therapists were recruited and governmental funding came down for that. Much of that is at basic therapy level. One of the things we need to look at going forward is the conversion from basic to therapy grades. Because many networks reconfigured at the same time, there are large recruitment gaps. When going out to the market, networks are looking for the same individuals. It was useful to see that collaboration approach in one of the Government's action plans with third level education because in the coming years we will need further training courses for therapists. Between now and 2032 there is €54 million identified for children's services. Much of that is with front-line services. Much work has been done but we are looking at that intervention so that we can get people off the waiting lists. Early intervention involves building up the skills of therapists and specialists across the areas.