Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not acceptable and it is an issue in the Deputy's constituency and right across the country. What the Government has done is funded a very large number of posts. There are several hundred posts in the progressing disability services for children and young people which have not been filled. I have asked the Department and the HSE to find solutions to this, including, for example, more senior roles and more advanced practitioners. At the same time, the Deputy will be aware of the assessment of need ruling the HSE is dealing with. Very significant progress was being made. There were over 70,000 children on the waiting list and that came down to below 55,000 and was moving quickly in the right direction.

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