Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the provision of the additional Estimate and resources for the Minister’s Department. I had to take a call and I missed some of the discussion with regard to the SUSI grant or grant supports for beneficiaries of temporary protection, particularly for the Ukrainian people who are here. I dealt with some cases where they applied through the normal SUSI grant application. I dealt with some families earlier in the summer and they went through the normal process. Fortunately, the ones with whom I had contact were all approved. They had to provide proper evidence, supporting documentation and all of that. SUSI was helpful to them. It has been aligned, and that is the way it should be. That is the message that needs to go out. It is great to see some of those students and young people who came here in the most awful of circumstances doing exceptionally well in their leaving certificate and going on to very demanding courses at third level. I wish them well.

Earlier, we spoke about the need for additional people across all the different disciplines in the provision of healthcare. One issue I have been highlighting with the Minster for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and previously with the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, is the whole area of therapy assistants. All of us in this room who are public representatives are utterly frustrated with the delays children and young people face accessing the therapies they need. One idea that was put forward a few years ago by different advocacy groups that I and other public representatives worked alongside, an idea that came from England, was to have therapy assistants. Those therapy assistants could do some of the work that the occupational therapist, speech therapist or whatever other kind of therapist does. They would do some of that particular work. We are not trying to lessen the quality of the service or therapy the child needs, however. I know that some of that work is happening. It is an area to which momentum should be given because we are not going to have enough therapists for quite a number of years. A greater intake is needed into our colleges and there will be a deficit for some time, apparently. I ask the Minister to put a particular emphasis on this in the further education level.

The Minister knows my association with Cavan Institute. A few years ago, between the HSE and some private nursing home providers, home support workers and healthcare assistant courses were provided to ensure we have enough skilled people to do that work in our particular area. Some other assistant therapy courses are under way as well. It is an area that may need further attention and greater investment. Those people can be upskilled and given the necessary skills to take on the role of therapy assistant in a shorter period than it would take people to qualify as therapists. It is not in any way to suggest that we lower the quality of service that people need. It is an area in which some work is being done, but if extra attention could be given to it, it would bring great benefits in the whole area of training more people and ensuring we have more resources available to deal with healthcare. Again, I welcome the Supplementary Estimate.