Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all know the issues with regard to recruitment and retention but we also know the absolute need that is out there and the abject failure there has been for many years, which continues at this point in time. Everyone would say it is beyond doubt that we need to engage in domestic and international initiatives, and we should be looking at every sort of pipeline to ensure we can get as many highly trained OTs, SLTs, psychologists and other specialists as possible. This would ensure we could deliver everything from assessments, even if at times it meant we had to look at the method by which we carried out assessments, right through the system to provide fit-for-purpose therapies.

However, there is a particular issue as to how we deliver this. I will ask the question again: if we fill all of these positions, will we be able to offer the service that we need to offer on the basis of the need? We need to get real about school-based therapies. Has there been much engagement with the Minister for Education on delivering something across the board that is fit for purpose?

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