Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I concur with everything he has said about why we are doing this. The reality is that it is hugely disappointing, as it was mooted to happen last July, then September. I found out that it had not happened when the Minister's Department appeared in front of the Committee of Public Accounts and I was informed it was not any closer because there were still things to be ironed out. I met CHO 5 last week. It contains the children's disability network team in my area. It is haemorrhaging staff because of the lack of organisation. I keep hearing that there is no issue with funding. It is extraordinary to hear that there is no issue with funds but that we do not have the staff. The staff that we do have within CHO 5 have come to the conclusion that the CDNT does not work. That is concerning because there are myriad problems. There is a haemorrhaging of staff and patients are on waiting lists of up to three years.

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