Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy McDonald raised the issue of the long Covid clinic at the Mater. I do not have the reasons here but the Deputy is suggesting it is closing. I will make inquiries with the HSE on what is happening there and what the background to the situation is. In the notes I received earlier, the indication was that this clinic is still operating. On the transfer, I have spoken to the relevant Ministers and Ministers of State and my understanding is we can bring that to conclusion relatively quickly with the transfer of disability service functions from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth because substantial additional funding has been made available for disability services for 2023. We want that funding and the additional services provided as quickly as possible and I will revert to the House on that issue when it is brought to a conclusion.

Deputy Bacik raised the issue of special schools and the provision of therapy services within them. We will convene a meeting of the Ministers responsible for education, health and children in respect of disability services. I have said to the HSE that we want therapists restored to special schools. The progressing disability services programme is a different philosophical approach and model of care. It might be more accurate in dealing with disability services but one of the consequences of that was taking therapists out of special schools. We need a multidisciplinary approach within special schools. That has been agreed and that is being worked on by the HSE in terms the restoration of therapists to special schools. There is a broader recruitment process under way in disability services more generally.

I will come back to the Deputy on the medical board of appeal. The appointments should have been made by now. My understanding is that there would be moves on that front.

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