Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government is very clear that the Government will provide ongoing support for Tusla in delivering targeted intervention services and that it will also support the increased use of therapeutic intervention services for children. The report published yesterday by the Children's Rights Alliance makes for very stark reading in terms of children's lack of access to therapeutic services. In particular, according to the figures, up to 7,000 children under the age of 17 years are awaiting an appointment to see a HSE psychologist. What is more worrying is the failure of children in many parts of the country to access child and adolescent mental health services and multi-disciplinary services, particularly speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. I put it to the Taoiseach that the waiting lists and the lack of accessibility are evidence of the lack of delivery of a key part of the programme for Government to meet the needs of children.

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