Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The occupational therapy waiting lists are too long in many parts of the country. Other waiting lists in children's disability services in Progressing Disability Services are far too long. There is a new draft strategy. My focus and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is on recruitment. Models of care are being examined. The most serious issue we have is recruitment. Many hundreds of posts have been sanctioned and funded by the Government, but the HSE has struggled to recruit into them for too long. The Minister of State and I are engaging with the Department and the HSE on finding new ways to fill those posts urgently to meet the pressing needs the Deputy outlined.

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