Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I recognise the importance of the point the Deputy made on the recruitment of psychologists and other health professionals. Delays are not always due to budgetary reasons, and in the case outlined by Deputy O'Rourke, for example, very often it is a recruitment issue in terms of the staff being available, be they speech therapists, occupational therapists or psychologists. I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to revert to the Deputy on the situation in Kildare, but it is an issue in areas other than Kildare as the Deputy will be well aware. The issue is one we need to address and we must try to examine what other initiatives might be taken to accelerate the recruitment of much-needed professionals, in particular in the assessment of children aged under five and older schoolchildren as well.

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