Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. I acknowledge Mr. Reid's opening statement in terms of the HSE commitment around providing the appropriate services and support for children in the State and the acknowledgement that the HSE regrets the negative experience of families where the current services may fall short of what is required to meet the needs of children and their families.

I will try not to repeat earlier comments by colleagues. My first question is in regard to the 91 children disability network teams that have been established and the services and supports that they provide in the geographical areas. In regard to the 190 posts recently announced in the service plan for 2022, it is obvious that the demand for therapeutic supports is outstripping supply and that more therapists are required to meet that demand. What is being done currently to overcome the retention crisis and to maintain not only critical staff but to recruit more talented and skilled professionals and graduates into the areas where they are needed?