Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising what is no doubt a very important point for the pupils and parents of Carrigaline Community Special School. The Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for disability, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, sends her apologies that she could not be here and has asked me to take this Topical Issue matter in her place. The Minister of State is fully committed to the development and enhancement of children’s disability services and to ensuring access for all children with complex needs across the country. This includes all appropriate respite services and therapies, including in-school supports.

Following discussions with the Taoiseach and Government Ministers in 2022 regarding the priority requirement to reinstate the health and social care supports that were historically provided in some special schools in the State, it was agreed that funding would be provided for an additional 136 posts to progress this requirement. It was also agreed that the special school-based services must be aligned with the existing CDNTs.

Having listened to the ongoing concerns of parents of children with complex needs who attend special schools, and mindful of this Government’s priority to deliver comprehensive on-site health and social supports to special schools, the HSE was requested to commence the process of allocating further staffing resources to these schools. Following a recent meeting between the Department, the HSE, the ETB and the school principal, positive developments have been made recently regarding Carrigaline Community Special School. An update from the HSE advises that there is now an on-site presence for speech and language and occupational therapists in the school, notwithstanding the concerns the Deputy just raised about the extent of that presence. I am left in no doubt about based on the points he raised. I am told, however, that work is actively ongoing to reinstate similar psychology supports to the school, with posts being advertised for relevant therapy assistant positions this week. In addition, the CDNT is working with the school to support the team there in developing the pupils’ functioning and participation in their educational setting.

The HSE advises that until staffing is fully resolved for the initial cohort of special schools, including Carrigaline, interim bridging arrangements required to meet the instructions supplied to the HSE are being developed. The HSE and lead agencies are working through a process with parents of children attending these schools.

The provision of respite services has come under increasing pressure in recent years due to an increase in the number of children and adults who are seeking access to respite as a reflection of general population increase, along with increasing levels of complexity across the sector. The Government is committed to the provision of additional respite as a key priority. This is reflected in the additional funds provided in successive budgets in recent years.

A Cork regional children’s respite forum was established in 2022. The forum manages referrals and respite service provision in the Cork area. Children up to the age of 18 years with a disability who are in receipt of services from a CDNT in Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare are eligible to apply for respite and-or home support services to the committee. This process will ensure there is equitable provision of service based on prioritised needs. The HSE has advised that the forum met throughout the summer, most recently on 6 September 2023. A total of 133 children were referred during these meetings. Children from ETB schools, including those in Carrigaline, were included in the referrals.

The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is awaiting clarity from the HSE on the number of referrals that have translated into actual overnight placements. This information can be supplied to the Deputy once it is received. While these issues present challenges, the Minister of State wishes to reiterate her full commitment, and that of the Department and HSE, to pursuing every avenue in order to ensure access and availability of appropriate respite and therapies for children with disabilities in Carrigaline, the wider community healthcare organisation, CHO, 4 area, and across the country.

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