Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Another issue is that many therapists have not been restored to special schools. The Minister of State touched on that. There is an actual shortage of therapists. In our meeting last week, I spoke on an issue I feel strongly about, which is the large number of special schools that are not providing summer provision. That is not acceptable. In summer 2023, every school should provide summer provision. We may need to bring in student occupational therapists and student speech and language therapists. As other members mentioned, some qualified staff within the early childhood care and education, ECCE, system are signing on for unemployment payments during the summer, while schools are closed and unable to provide the service. Ultimately, the kids for whom the summer provision was initially brought in are not getting that service now. They are the kids with the most needs, and this is not acceptable. We need to look at different ways.

I am glad the Minister of State looked at the Maltese model. It is a model I have also looked at. Approximately 18 months ago, we spoke with Adam Harris about this and the empowerment Act that was introduced in Malta a number of years ago. For a small nation in the Mediterranean, Malta is well ahead of us in a lot of areas. We need to aim to have fully supportive models for children and families throughout the whole of life, and not just in health or education. It needs to be in employment, where more than 85% of people with autism are either underemployed or unemployed and that is not acceptable. Parents want to know that those supports are in place for their children as they get older.

I fully believe in the school inclusion model and that it is the way forward. I know the trial model used in CHO 7 was successful but, unfortunately, the Covid pandemic came in the middle of that. I said to the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan and her officials last week that we should look to expand that model. I would like that model to be used in Longford. Deputy Flaherty mentioned the figures that show the severe need we have in our county, which probably has the longest waiting lists of people waiting for services and assessment of needs in the country due to the lack of staff. When the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, visited us, we had half a speech therapist for the whole county, with a population of 45,000. Based on the staff numbers we had, it was estimated that we will be waiting up to six years to clear the existing assessment of needs lists. I want us to prioritise those services and get them into schools on a daily and weekly basis. The model worked when it was trialled in CHO 7. I know there is a commitment in the programme for Government that the funding will be put in place to roll that out throughout the country.

I want to put on record that I believe the Minister of State is an excellent advocate in her position. I know she is doing a lot of work on behalf of families and she will make things happen. Having spoken to her prior to the announcement, I know that delivering the strategy means a lot to her personally. I know she will deliver it. She will make sure to get the funding necessary to implement it and make it a success, and that is extremely important for all families out there who have children with autism. I thank her for her time today. I want to see higher staffing levels in the progressing disability services, PDS, model in Longford. In the past three weeks, two occupational therapists transferred to Mullingar and Cavan, so they are no longer in Longford. It is a priority for me and it should be a priority for the Government to fill those posts and not let a bad situation become worse. Would the Minister of State like to make any comments to finish up?