Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. I am deeply concerned by the reply I have received. The Minister of State has reaffirmed the very points I made in my opening contribution. She cites the HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources. She says the objective of the new model of assessment and intervention is to provide one clear referral pathway for all children but it will not do it. As I said earlier, it will not cut it. That is the sad reality because we have an underprovision of the professional skills necessary to cope, not only with the existing year-on-year number presenting but the fact that an increasing number of children are being referred. They are not being referred for no good reason. There is an absolutely valid basis to all of these referrals. It is critical to recognise that resourcing is the essential element in terms of the provision of the necessary professional skills in speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, child psychology et al. While the Minister of State says that since 2014, an additional 275 therapy staff have been appointed, the fact is that a number of them are replacements who filled existing vacancies in circumstances where we are working from a very low base following years of no recruitment. We must ensure that we meet the need that is presenting. It is just not good enough.

As a spokesperson on disability rights among other issues, I was hugely concerned looking at the budget for 2017 that this area had not been properly recognised in the funding provision for the coming year. I appeal to the Minister of State in her particular office to engage with her colleagues and the senior Minister who cannot be left at a remove from responsibility in relation to these matters. I appeal to her in her respective position to reflect on the very serious matter I have highlighted to her. The HSE has recognised, as stated in the Minister of State's reply, that early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities must be improved.

In light of all of my years of service here and in previous life as a public representative, I have to ask when that dawned on the HSE. The process is now well under way but it is just not good enough. I appreciate the help of the Minister of State.

See this speech in context