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

I thank Deputy Ferris for raising these particular issues. I accept his figures regarding Cork and Kerry. It is about more than the argument about facts and figures. It is about young children and it is time for resources. On the standardised process, there has to be adequate time for assessment. That is a very sensible argument and it is something I am pushing very strongly. We need to get those children in quicker and to give them quality time as well. I accept too that the 100 new therapy posts are not enough. We could do with more. However, it is a start for 2019 but I intend to roll out more as we go along.

It is also important to recognise that this year €1.9 billion is being provided for health and personal social services for a wide and complex range of services and supports for people with disabilities. That is an historic figure and the most ever spent on disability funding. That is the record of the Independence Alliance in Government. I reiterate that there will be €1.9 billion in 2019. One of the key priorities of the HSE is to improve waiting times for therapy services for children, as Deputy Ferris mentioned. Additional funding secured by the HSE for these therapeutic services has been invested in progressing disability services for children and young people's programmes.

Since 2014, the roll-out of the programme has had a targeted investment of €14 million as well as the provision of 275 staff to increase services for all children with disabilities. As I stated, budget 2019 provided for 100 new posts for children's disability services. It is a start and I accept Deputy Ferris's argument that we need to push this up to the figure of 400 that he mentioned. Initiatives such as the reconfiguration of therapy services into local geographical teams and the provision of these new therapy posts are expected to have a significant positive impact on the waiting lists.

All CHO areas also have improvement plans to deal with the assessment of need waiting lists. I am committed and the HSE is committed to work in partnership with other service providers to achieve the maximum benefits for children and adults who require access to therapy services. It is aimed to ensure that the resources available for therapy resources are used in the most effective manner possible. The HSE is acutely aware of the importance of addressing waiting times for children with special needs and I assure the House that every effort is being made to tackle this issue. This is something I personally prioritised as well in the HSE service plan for 2019. We have dealt with respite care and residential places but we need to deal with the assessment of need issue.

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