Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)

To follow on from that point, in respect of my county, Meath, and the lack of capacity in the system, in CDNT 2 covering the Kells area, and CDNT 5 covering the Navan and Slane area, one in four posts is vacant. Those are the best figures. In CDNT 4, covering the Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin area, one in three posts is vacant. In CDNT 6, covering the Trim area, which Deputy Dempsey represents, almost two in three positions are vacant, or 62%. That is not unique across the State. It has a profound impact. Other Deputies will be familiar with responses such as this example:

Currently there is one psychologist for a service of over 800 plus children. While the team will make every effort that this assessment is completed on time, we cannot guarantee this given the significant demand on limited psychology resources.

It is the same in respect of primary care for those children with less complex needs. In the Ashbourne area, since April 2022, more than three years ago, "1.5 whole-time equivalent paediatric occupational therapist posts based in Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin are vacant." That means there is no occupational therapist in that primary care service. Again, this is replicated across the State. Finally, when we meet parents who actually have a service, support or therapy for their child but where that therapy is being withdrawn, it is clear that the benefit of these therapies for children is absolutely profound and to deny them of it is absolutely cruel.

It has to change.

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