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

As Deputy Barry will know, Deputies Pádraig O'Sullivan and Christopher O'Sullivan have been relentlessly pursuing this issue on behalf of St. Killian's. Yesterday, they received communication from the HSE in respect of St. Killian's and the use of funding to provide therapeutic support. I have spoken to the principal on this issue. My clear position is that we need school-based multidisciplinary teams in all special schools. There has been resistance to this idea, which I have put forward in Government, from the HSE because of the progressing disability model that was started in 2013. That has not worked. It has resulted in a decline in the number of therapists in special schools. Ostensibly, these therapists were to become part of CDNTs but those CDNTs have not succeeded in recruiting the necessary staff. There are all sorts of issues with it. A pilot has been agreed between the three Departments. I believe that is ultimately not sufficient. The next government will simply have to implement-----

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