Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. The core principle of progressing disability services, PDS, is to achieve fairer and more equitable access to services for all children with disabilities based on their needs. This includes access to school-based therapy supports for children attending special schools in the country, including in Cork.

The Minister fully acknowledges the frustrations faced by families of children in special schools and the urgent need for therapy provision within special schools. To progress the reinstatement of health and social care supports, which were historically provided in some special schools in the State, funding for an additional 224 whole-time equivalent, WTE, posts was provided by Government across 2021 and 2022. The HSE has advised that just over 155 of these WTE posts have been filled. While some services have been reinstated, progress has been affected by the international shortage of health and social care professionals.

In August 2024, Government agreed to support 16 schools to join the special schools' pilot for enhanced in-school therapy supports during the 2024-2025 academic year. The pilot is delivered by the children’s disability network teams, led by the Health Service Executive and its funded agencies, in selected special schools in Cork, Dublin and Galway and is supported by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. This pilot aims to provide an integrated model of service, ensuring all stakeholders, including special schools, have relevant input and, through effective governance mechanisms, are able to verify that additional resources are implementing the required level of service for children and their families.

Under phase 1 of the pilot, the HSE advises that all four schools in the Cork area have filled the therapy posts assigned through the pilot. Under phase 2, both Cork schools in this phase have filled all therapy posts allocated as part of the pilot.

Under the 2025 programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, there is a commitment to introduce a national therapy service in education, commencing in special schools and subsequently extending it to schools with special classes and mainstream provision. This service will be delivered by the NCSE, building on its work previously completed through the educational therapy support service. It is intended that the national therapy service will commence in some special schools at a later stage in the 2025-2026 school year. The Department of Education and Youth has advised that further roll-out of the service will occur on a phased basis, with a wider roll-out commencing in the 2026-2027 school year. The Department of Education and Youth has advised that, initially, the service will include the disciplines of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Over time, further disciplines such as physiotherapy may be included. Officials in the Department of Education and Youth have begun engagement with relevant Departments and agencies on the design, timelines, alignment, integrated working and costings involved to deliver this ambitious programme of work.

Regarding the provision of private therapies for children with disabilities, the Government and the Minister remain supportive of the use of available private capacity, and the funding of same. The HSE will also continue to prioritise the recruitment of remaining therapists to work in special schools, as approved and resourced by Government in 2021 and 2022. I assure the House that this Government will continue to diligently engage with the HSE, service providers and families to ensure children with disabilities receive the support and services they require.

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