Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I share her concerns about what is going on in this sector. I will engage with anybody here who wants to sit down and talk about the issues. I accept the genuine concerns about this matter that have been raised by the Deputy. Since the commencement in 2007 of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, the HSE has endeavoured to meet its legislative requirements as set out in the Act. As a consequence of a High Court ruling of December 2009, the effect of which was to open eligibility to all children born after 1 June 2002, the number of children aged five and over and of schoolgoing age has increased steadily as a percentage of all applications received. The relevant figure was 26% at the end of 2011 but it had increased to 51% by the end of 2017. This reflects how the number of children seeking access to the assessment of need process tends to accumulate. The number of new applications for assessment under the 2005 Act has increased steadily since it was introduced. Some 1,138 applications were received in a six-month period in 2007, whereas 5,839 applications were received in 2017. Some 43,521 completed applications have been received by the HSE since 2007. I accept the criticism that this is a numbers issue. Substantial work was undertaken during 2017 to address waiting times for assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005. The additional funding secured by the HSE for therapeutic purposes has been invested in the progressing disability services for children and young people programme. The roll-out of this programme since 2014 has entailed targeted investment of €14 million and the provision of 275 additional therapy staff to increase services for children with all disabilities. I will engage with this issue and ensure it is a priority during the negotiations on the Estimates.

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