Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have corresponded with the Minister of State, and I acknowledge that she is very proactive in this space. However, there is a persistent problem in the particular CDNT to which I have referred. It needs to be addressed and the issue needs to be resolved for the sake of the children and parents who so desperately need access to those services.

In October of this year, a survey of occupational therapists in Ireland found that more than two thirds of occupational therapists have experienced burn-out as a result of the job in the last 12 months and cite lack of staffing as a significant factor. They are being asked to carry too much in terms of workload.

There is a need for the Minister of State's Department to engage very proactively with the Department of the Minister, Deputy Harris, to make sure we are producing a sufficient number of graduates. The Minister of State needs to engage with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure people are brought in and given the proper work permits. We need to go into secondary schools in terms of career guidance and tell people there are huge opportunities to make a difference here while having a worthwhile and productive career. I cannot just keep going back to parents to identify the problem. I have to start identifying solutions.

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