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

I discussed this earlier with Deputy Fitzmaurice and I thank Deputy Tully for raising it again. I think the progressing disability services for children and young people programme was initiated around 2013. I had issues with it at the time. I believe multidisciplinary teams in special schools are the optimal way to help children, but that does not cover all children. That is the point the HSE would make, that it is trying to provide a service for all children. That said, it has moved policy-wise from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and we are putting a particular focus on this area. Recruitment and retention has been very problematic in the children's area, as I said earlier. Other parts of the health service seem to be recruiting therapists much more easily than is the case in children's services. That is something that has to be changed.

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