Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Ó Laoghaire and Gould for raising this really important discussion. My colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte, is fully committed to the continued development and enhancement of children’s disability services through the implementation of the progressing disability services roadmap for service improvements from 2023 to 2026, which seeks to ensure that we have equitable access to services for all children with complex needs. This includes school-based therapy supports for the Cork education and training board, ETB, special schools and across the country.

The concerns of families of children with complex needs to whom both Deputies referred and who attend special schools is acknowledged, as is the urgent need for therapy provision within special schools, which is an important avenue. In order to progress the reinstatement of health and social care supports that were historically provided in some special schools in the State, funding for an additional 221 posts was provided across 2021 and 2022. Additionally, it was agreed that the special school-based services must be aligned with the existing children’s disability network teams.

The Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth is engaging with the HSE on a number of measures to support schools. The Minister of State with responsibility for disability is also engaging with the HSE following the receipt of a recent proposal on a number of measures to support special schools in the areas centred around a grant funding to special schools, consideration on the nursing provision to CDNTs and consideration on supports for challenging behaviours.

The Minister of State has listened to the frustrations of both parents and schools and, together with the Department and the HSE, is committed to strengthening staffing in children's disability services.

I assure the House and both Deputies that the Minister of State’s Department will continue to engage with HSE senior management to drive enhancements in disability services for children attending the Cork ETB special schools, as well as special schools throughout the country.

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