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

I welcome the debate on this important topic. It is only right that I, as the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, and the Government, which constantly strives to improve waiting times for access to services for children, outline the measures we are taking. Everyone who has spoken during the debate, irrespective of party affiliation, shares a common desire, namely, to have the best possible services for all children with disabilities, as has been demonstrated during the debate.

Timely access to assessments and therapies is an important factor in a child's development. I fully understand that the delays in accessing services are a source of great concern for both children and their families. Every child with additional needs should have access to the necessary supports within a reasonable time to enable him or her to achieve his or her full potential, to maximise his or her independence and to live a rich and fulfilling life.

As I outlined earlier, the HSE has undertaken a number of initiatives to address the excessive waiting times for access to services, including the recruitment of 100 additional therapy posts to be in place by the end of the year, the appointment of the children's disability network managers to head network teams, and the introduction of a standard operating procedure for the assessment of need process. While some areas, including the Cork community healthcare organisation, CHO, area, which was raised earlier, have made great progress on the assessment of need waiting list, other areas have experienced difficulties with staffing, such as in recruiting and retaining certain professions, which I accept. All the CHOs were allocated some of the 100 posts, 65 of which will be in place by the end of November, while the rest will start in December. Cavan-Monaghan, which is in CHO area 1, received 12 of the posts, as did the CHO that covers north County Tipperary.

We accept the points raised in respect of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF. The HSE already uses private providers to help with the waiting lists.

As for the comments on autism, it spans many areas apart from that of health. The Department is focusing on improving health services for individuals with autism.

Deputy Kelly made a point about progressing disability services. The disability network managers required to head the teams have all been recruited. The process was delayed for a long time due to union negotiations, and a Labour Court recommendation was another blockage in the system. The issue was resolved in recent weeks because the Labour Court determination supported the HSE in its appointment of new network managers, who can now be appointed.

CHO 7, which includes Dublin South-West, was allocated 13 of the 100 posts. It has had problems with recruitment and retention, and while that is not the only reason for the waiting lists, it is certainly part of it.

I have identified the blockages in the system. I take on board Deputies' views on the issue, but in tandem with the initiatives I have outlined, the HSE is committed to using innovative approaches involving public, voluntary and private providers to achieve the targeted reduction in therapy waiting lists. In addition to the recent funding provided for the autism action plan, since 2014, the rolling out of the programme on progressing disability services for children and young people has had a total targeted investment of €14 million and the provision of 275 therapy staff to increase services for children with disabilities. There was also an allocation of €4 million within the 2016 service plan to allow for the recruitment of speech and language therapists to address waiting lists in both primary care services and disability services, and the funding has provided an additional 83 posts. The recruitment of 40 new posts in occupational therapy was commenced by the HSE last year, and the HSE is reviewing options for the allocation of the posts in the various the CHO areas. The HSE experiences continual difficulties in both the recruitment and retention of some therapy grades and in some geographical areas.

I reiterate that in addition to being properly resourced, services have to be properly organised to be accessible to all children and young people, an important process that is under way. In budget 2020, as we know, the service plan to be announced within the next couple of weeks will exceed €2 billion in social care spending on disability services, despite the budget taking into account the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. The money is being invested and the line on the graph is rising, but we have much to do and I accept many of the arguments made during the debate about therapy services, which need to be developed.

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