Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I raise again the totally unacceptable delays for children with additional needs in Cavan and Monaghan in getting an assessment of needs and follow-up therapies when required. Daily I listen to parents who are very concerned, worried and absolutely frustrated that their child or children needing supports are on long waiting lists with no signs at all of early appointments. We all know how important it is to have early intervention and of providing therapies and supports in a timely manner. I am talking in many instances of vulnerable children needing these vital supports. We have families on limited incomes paying for services and incurring expenditure that they cannot afford. Children may need assessments to ensure that they get an appropriate placement in school.

Enable Ireland provides the Cavan children's disability network team, CDNT, services but with staff shortages, it is only operating at half capacity. Children with less complex additional needs depend on primary care in Cavan for services but again, there are unacceptable delays. Huge numbers of children in Cavan are on long waiting lists for supports and the capacity to deliver therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology, must be addressed as a matter of extreme urgency.

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