James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am interested in ensuring equity of access across the system and I look forward to getting the report I have mentioned in the shortest possible time - in the next few weeks, I hope. That will allow us to distribute the resources available to us as equitably as possible and as soon as possible. I have been asked specifically why I took the decision I took. I allude to the report that has been published on the Department's website and is there for all to see. The back page offers two options.

The overall allocation of €300,000 equates to approximately five whole-time equivalents. Option one was the deployment of the total resource to address the waiting lists either in Dublin north east or in the Dublin-mid-Leinster region, which would enable a more effective and speedy approach. This option could only operate equitably on the basis that if one region got the entire allocation in 2012, the remaining regions would get a similar allocation in 2013. Accordingly, in 2012, Dublin north-east would receive €300,000, while in 2013, Dublin-mid-Leinster would receive €300,000. Option 2 was the division of the €300,000 in line with waiting list data as detailed above. The 138 children from Dublin north east on waiting lists constitute 36% of the overall waiting lists for Beechpark Services, which would come to €108,000. The remainder, €192,000, would go to the 241 children from Dublin-mid-Leinster.

In the context of the focus on pressures on Dublin north east and representations by schools and parents to the Department of Health, an allocation of €108,000 would provide for just short of two whole-time equivalent basic-grade clinicians to enhance the north-side team providing these services. While the additional resource would have a positive impact on tackling the waiting list, the speed of progress would be much greater if a full multidisciplinary team was approved. I followed the Health Service Executive’s recommendations. Although Deputy Kelleher has name-checked an individual, this report comes from the HSE, not an individual.

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