Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the Deputy's first point, every year, last year being no exception, we have increased resources, consultant posts, nursing posts and other medical posts to alleviate the waiting lists for particular children right across the hospital system, whether in orthodontic, ophthalmic or any of the other specialties. A large part of the resources every year has gone into alleviating the position for children. That has proved itself. In areas where there are difficulties, the national treatment purchase fund has also been used to alleviate the situation. It is quite a costly system but it allows us to use private facilities to reduce the waiting lists.

I have several points to make on the Castleknock position, which was brought to my attention in recent days. There are 277 of these schools around the country and all of them have teaching staff, resources staff and special needs assistants, but not all of them have multidisciplinary teams. The board of management in this case, which, as it runs the school, is entitled to take the decision, has stated its intention not to open the school unless this multidisciplinary team is in place. The children are attending other schools further away from their homes in the immediate area. It is not that they are out of school but they would be facilitated far better if they were in the local area.

The school was supplied with a new high quality school building, including a purpose built autism unit. The teachers and special needs assistants have been sanctioned for the special school. I understand the school has taken the view that until it receives funding from the HSE for the therapies, it will not open. The view is that the school should open the unit without delay while the work goes on with the HSE to organise the therapy provision rather than leave the children in the other schools. However, the board of management is entitled to take the position it has taken.

It is not the case that there is an embargo on recruitment. Almost 4,000 staff were taken on last year by the HSE and its budget for this year has increased by €1 billion. The board of management of this school obviously has demands and issues to deal with but the HSE is working to improve access to speech and language and occupational therapy throughout the country. The Minister of State, Deputy Devins, has been working with the Department of Education and Science to co-ordinate the provision of such therapies. Members will recall that the number of places in the relevant universities and institutes of technology has been expanded over recent years to increase the supply of therapists coming out of third level education. There has traditionally been a shortage of speech and language therapists. I appreciate the importance of various forms of therapy to children with special needs, but I do not think they should be denied an education in a purpose-built unit in the meantime. I have asked the Ministers concerned to do their best to resolve this issue in conjunction with the HSE.

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