Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know it is not the fault of the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, but this is crazy. She is telling me that the HSE intends to recruit 40 occupational therapists nationally when 35 occupational therapist posts are needed to meet the demand in Wexford according to the occupational therapy manager in the county. This is off the Richter scale. What kind of impact will 40 make on the problem nationally if 35 are needed in Wexford? It will not scratch the surface of the problem. I do not understand that.

The waiting times are shameful and make a mockery of the idea of early intervention. The disparity between the different CHO areas beggars belief. These children are waiting for an initial assessment only. They would then have to wait again for a further appointment. The number of children awaiting an assessment in Wexford is more than three times the national average. I would like an explanation for that. Somebody - I do not know who - is responsible for that. The Government has a responsibility to hold somebody to account for that. There has to be an explanation. The Minister of State probably does not have it front of her, but the Government should supply it. People in Wexford and the parents of the children who are waiting for their initial appointment deserve an explanation.

We know that Wexford is the third most deprived county in the country and in some areas it is the worst. It is unbelievable. The HSE letter to the parent of a child awaiting assessment in Wexford has shown that occupational therapy in the Wexford local health office is currently dealing with referrals from June 2016. This is March 2019.

Can we get some answers and accountability?

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