Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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3. To ask the Minister for Health when the full complement of children’s disability network teams will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28601/18]

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister of State when the full complement of children's disability network teams will be in place and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for the question. First, the HSE is rolling out the progressing disability services for children and young people programme. This programme entails the reconfiguration of all current HSE and HSE-funded children’s disability services into geographically based children’s disability network teams. The programme aims to achieve a nationally equitable approach to service provision for all children based on their individual need and regardless of where they live or where they go to school. That is an important part of the plan. Some HSE areas have already reconfigured into interdisciplinary children’s disability network teams. Thus far, a total of 56 networks are in place. The remaining 82 teams are developing their reconfiguration and implementation plan and will be reconfigured in 2018. HSE areas currently planning reconfiguration continue to have significant early intervention and school age services in place, provided either directly by the HSE or by the voluntary service providers funded by the HSE. A key enabler to the establishment of the remaining children’s disability network teams is the recruitment of children’s disability network managers. The grade and role for this post has been agreed. However, following the outcome of a protracted industrial relations process with Fórsa, a process of mediation is currently ongoing with the relevant lead agencies, including key voluntary providers, to agree a path forward for recruitment for these posts. This process is due to conclude shortly, following which it is hoped the recruitment process will commence. In parallel with the recruitment of network managers, work is proceeding between HSE national disabilities and the HSE estates on enhancing accommodation options for children's disability network teams.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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There is a long standing commitment to provide children's disability network teams across the country. It has been ongoing for some time now. The 2016 HSE service plan said that work is under way in reconfiguring children's disability services into geographically-based children's disability network teams with 56 of the 129 teams reconfigured. It went on to say that "2016 will see the completion of the full reconfiguration of 0–18s disability services into 129 Children’s Disability Network Teams". A total of 56 teams had been reconfigured at the start of 2016 with 129 to be in place at the end of 2016. At the end of 2016, 56 of the promised 129 teams had been reconfigured, so in essence no progress was made. In 2017, the service plan told us that the number of children’s disability network teams to be established by the end of 2017 was 129. At the end of 2017, 56 of the promised 129 teams had been reconfigured, so no progress was made yet again. What is the delay here? Why is it taking so long? Not a single extra team was reconfigured during 2016 or 2017. Have any been reconfigured so far in 2018?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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As I said in my response, the important thing is that we all recognise that early intervention services and services for school age children with disabilities need to be improved and I accept that criticism. We need to ensure that they are organised more effectively and this process is well under way. The important thing to remember is that a total of 56 are in place. The remaining 82 are developing their reconfiguration. I have given a commitment today that it will be concluded in 2018. There are issues in the background in industrial relations, negotiations with the trade union group Fórsa and there are delays on the process of mediation but these issues are being dealt with. I am optimistic that this process will conclude shortly and we will have these teams out there to provide services and networks for children with disabilities, because we have to ensure that when we are planning these services, children get the maximum early intervention service as quickly as possible. That is my objective and hopefully it will be completed by the end of this year.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I again ask the Minister of State to say, insofar as he can, that all of these will be reconfigured by the end of this year. The HSE told me in a recent reply that a second key enabler is accommodation for these multi-agency and multidisciplinary teams. From the child and family's perspective, a co-located children's disability team is essential to achieve optimal outcomes for the child, particularly where in the majority of new teams, staff are coming together from different organisations and cultures to form one new team providing for all children with a complex disability within the defined geographical area.

In recent years, however, funding for accommodation has not been allocated for progressing disability services. As a result, there is a significant shortfall in accommodation in some areas for newly forming teams that are suitable for children with disabilities. Has the Minister of State sought any direct State funding? The HSE is engaging with the European Investment Bank but should he not be delivering direct State intervention in this area?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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To go back to the Deputy's original question, the plan is to have the full complement of children's disability network teams in place by the end of 2018. As I said, we have to deal with the industrial relations issues but I am confident they will be hammered out.

On the funding issue, the Deputy can take it that we are pushing very strongly for support for that. With the support of the Minister - I also mentioned this matter at Government level recently - we will be prioritising early intervention services for children in the Estimates discussions that will take place with the HSE in the coming weeks. We have already started that process. I am also prioritising the urgent need for emergency residential places for people with intellectual disabilities with older parents. Some Deputies have spoken to me privately about that issue. I am prioritising those issues because the current delays are unacceptable.

The HSE is providing the funding to enhance accommodation for the teams in question. Accommodation is urgently needed. This is a matter in respect of which we need to respond.