Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)

The Government and I recognise the importance of early intervention for children with disabilities and of ensuring they receive the right services at the right time. For children with complex needs, these services are delivered through the CDNTs across the country. In 2025, the CDNTs will provide supports and services to almost 45,000 children with complex needs. This is an increase of some 2,000 children in receipt of services at the end of December 2024. Despite increasing pressures on waiting lists across the country, the number of children on waiting lists has fallen from nearly 13,000 in January to 10,579 at the end of August, which is a reduction of 18%. The HSE has advised the Department that of the 14 CDNTs in HSE South West, a total of 11 provide services in Cork city and county. The approved number of whole-time equivalent posts for the Cork area at the end of September 2025.was 308.77. Of these posts, 234.73 were filled, with a further 32.42 post holders on various types of leave. The Cork area CDNTs are therefore staffed to 87% with a 13% vacancy rate. We acknowledge the current delays in accessing interventions. Work is ongoing by the HSE to maximise the capacity of the CDNTs via recruitment campaigns and other measures. The Government has made funding available in 2025 for children’s services to build on existing recruitment initiatives, focusing on various positions across CDNTs.

A further €8 million has been secured in budget 2026 to allow for the recruitment of 150 staff to the CDNTs. Recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals is the most significant challenge and work is ongoing to increase those staffing levels also.

See this speech in context