Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Figures I obtained very recently on early intervention, which is committed to in the programme for Government, show that 7,176 children in this State are waiting for over a year for initial therapy or assessment. I am sure the Minister can agree this figure is both shocking and unacceptable. In my constituency, there are 921 children in north Tipperary waiting for early intervention while in Offaly the waiting period for so-called intervention is 17 months. That is absolutely scandalous. In addition, the problem in Offaly has been made worse by the fact that the clinical psychologist post is vacant since August. Can the Minister advise when this post will be filled? When will the early intervention teams be put in place, as envisaged in A Vision for Change?

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