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

I thank Deputy Quinlivan for his question. I agree with him about commending the staff. They do an excellent job. I was in Limerick recently and I saw at first hand the fantastic work that is done with young adults with intellectual disabilities in respect of third level education and inclusive education. This is very much in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I know Limerick is leading on that particular issue. The Deputy's concerns are genuine. We need immediate action. I will relay the Deputy's concerns to the Minister. I agree with him that services are critical. The shortage of psychologists is an issue. That is something we are dealing with in other counties as well. However, the process of recruiting 114 assistant psychologists and 20 staff grade psychologists is ongoing. That should improve the situation.

On the waiting lists, I have no difficulty in saying that the Limerick early intervention service is doing an excellent job. The fact that it is dealing with 410 children and that it has these long waiting lists is something we have to deal with. I also recognise that the first class early intervention services and the services for school age children with disabilities are paramount. There are challenges, however. I accept that. It is expected that the transition of services into multidisciplinary geographically based teams will improve waiting times for children accessing early intervention services. The HSE and partner agencies will remain fully committed to the delivery of needs-based services to children with complex needs within the mid-west disability services, based on evidence-based practice.

On a personal level, over the coming weeks we in the Department of Health will be having talks with the HSE in respect of the Estimates. I have put early intervention services in my top five priorities. I also have to deal with crises in emergency residential services for older adults with intellectual disabilities, but the issues the Deputy raised today are on my priority list. Many colleagues concur with the Deputy. There is great support for the issue in the House. They see the problem. We need to do it, but we also have staffing issues. We have shortages of people and recruitment issues. We are really working hard in going abroad and trying to attract many of our psychologists and speech and language therapists whom we lost over recent years back to Ireland. The Deputy can take it that I will relay his concerns and push that agenda.

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