Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise again the unacceptable delays in children with additional needs getting appropriate follow-up treatment following an assessment of need. There are very long delays in children obtaining therapies such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy. We all know of the absolute importance of having early interventions to support a person with a particular health need but very regrettably, this is not happening. We have a critical shortage of such clinicians in County Cavan, which impacts very adversely on the work of the local children's disability network team. We need a very strong and robust international recruitment campaign for therapists. There must be a shorter process in validating qualifications for persons who train abroad. In the longer term, we need to train more people in such disciplines in our own colleges. These professional positions must become attractive enough to retain qualified personnel. Recruitment and retention of such clinicians must be improved. Families with very limited means are incurring huge costs in accessing therapies for children with additional needs on a private basis.

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