Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In addition to the funding provided to enhance capacity to the CDNTs in recent years, the Government committed to providing an additional 136 posts in 2022 to facilitate the reinstatement of services in 104 special schools. The allocation for special schools located in Cork is 22 whole-time equivalents and the HSE is actively allocating posts here. Cork-Kerry community healthcare - and this might be important in respect of what the Deputy said about organising a pathway - will establish family forums in each CDNT from March 2023 in line with the CDNT national governance policy. Cork-Kerry community healthcare is committed to ensuring parents' voices are at the centre of CDNT delivery of service and I welcome this approach.

The Deputy used the word "urgent" in raising this issue and he is correct. I assure him and the House that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will continue to work tirelessly with the HSE, as will I, to find immediate and lasting solutions to staffing issues, which, when resolved, will ensure children and young people can access the services that are vital for their development. I will ask the Minister of State’s office to contact the Deputy. He might provide the details and we will see if there is anything we can do to expedite the vital supports these two young boys need. I thank him for the manner in which he raised the matter.

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