Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Last week, more than 200 parents marched down St. Patrick's Street in Cork chanting, "We are marching through our town 'cos Micheál Martin let us down." They were parents of children with disabilities who are not getting access to disability services, particularly in the schools. Under pressure from the parents’ campaign, the Minister of State responsible for disabilities, Deputy Rabbitte, has committed to restoring therapist allocations to Cork special schools to pre-pandemic levels. According to school principals, this equates to 60 therapists. The Minister of State told The Echothat the HSE could validate the allocations in less than two months. Does the Taoiseach understand that the parents are now watching for action on that promise like hawks and that the failure to deliver on it will inevitably — and shockingly, because it should not have to happen — lead to an escalation of their campaign? Will he act on this issue now?

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