Dáil debates

Friday, 3 December 2021

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Disability Services

10:50 am

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last month, figures were released to me that show the following: 853 children await occupational therapy in Cork north Lee in my own constituency; over 200 children have waited two years or more; and some children have waited three and four years. I have also had it confirmed for me that out of the three funded occupational therapist positions in Cork north Lee 1.5 persons have been on maternity leave since June 2020 and 0.5 of a person has yet to be recruited. This means that for the past 18 months one occupational therapist has had to deal with over 850 children.

Even if we did have three occupational therapists they would not be able to deal with the more than 200 children who have waited over two years and the other 650 children. It is scandal that there is only one occupational therapist to look after 853 children. I wish to emphasise to the Minister of State that parents are at their wits' end because they cannot get services for their children. What can she tell me to tell those parents?

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