Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have raised a number of times in the past the issue of the return of therapists to special schools, including St. Killian's Special School and Cara Junior School in my constituency. Figures I have received show that there are 368 students in special schools in children's disability network team, CDNT, 8 in my constituency, and they have only been sanctioned two full-time therapists for 368 students. I spoke with the principals from special schools in my constituency today. They are beyond frustrated, and they are exhausted. They are being told, and were told by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, that this will happen, but they have not been given a date and it has not happened. I know there is a meeting next week. I ask now that they be given an adequate and swift timeline for when this will happen. Parents Unite, an advocacy group for St. Killian's Special School, has put together a potential package that will cost €150,000. That would see a return to the therapy levels that were there in 2020. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister and the Department to sanction the €150,000 to provide the therapists these children desperately need.

The Minister of State met with these parents in November 2023. She indicated that if they were to source therapists, she would be supportive. The school has done it and the parents have worked with it. Now, the Minister is ghosting them. Will the Minister of State, the Government and the Minister involved in the Department finally provide the therapists that are needed and the money that is required? We have a solution. We hear constantly that money is not the issue. The ball is in the Minister of State's court.

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