Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Tá mé buíoch don Cheann Comhairle as ucht deis a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar seo agus an buachaill seo a lua ar urlár na Dála inniu. I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this urgent, emergency situation on the floor of the Dáil Chamber today. This is a story that has been reported in some media outlets today. A child has been in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda for approximately 13 days but it is not hospitalisation this child requires. The child urgently requires residential care for at least a portion of time. He also needs further support from the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and from whatever other disability services are available. I am not confident that the child has received all of the medical and associated services he requires, particularly in recent weeks. I strongly urge Deputy Finian McGrath, both in his role as Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues and in his role as Minister of State at the Department of Health, to try to bring the hospital and disability sides of the HSE together.

I have been informed that this matter has been escalated to national level within the administrative structure. I am now escalating it to the national level of the Dáil. One side needs to talk to the other. There is no complaint about the hospital but it is not the place for him and, as I understand it, he does not need to be there but there is nowhere else for him to go. When this case came to my office and the media reported on it, it turned out that other, similar cases have happened or are happening. That is frightening. Services are not there when they are needed in this particularly urgent and critical situation.

I will not say too much more because I want to leave it as general as possible. I have already discussed the matter privately with the Minister of State. I gave him some more information about it which I will not put on the floor of the Dáil but I hope the Minister of State appreciates the urgency of the matter and the officials who make decisions, under the Minister, will be able to make the right choices for this child in conjunction with his parents. The parents are waiting for services. A particular service was supposed to be discussing matters with them this morning and that fell through for some reason. I was very disappointed to hear that did not happen. Another service interviewed the family on Friday and, as I understand it, that service does not have a place at the moment. It was very disappointing that what was meant to happen this morning did not happen. I strongly urge the Minister to do something. It is really urgent.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and particularly for the manner in which he raised it. I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the issue.

I am aware of the urgent case of this child which has been the subject of media attention this morning. While it would not be appropriate for me to go into the specifics of any individual case here in the House, I can say that I have been advised by the Health Service Executive that the child in question was brought by his parents to the emergency department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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That is not the case.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Okay, right.

I also am advised by the HSE that this child does not require hospital care. However, I have been assured that the community disability services in the CHO 8 area are actively addressing this issue and exploring all possible options in securing appropriate services for this child as a matter of urgency. The Government’s ongoing priority is the safeguarding of vulnerable people in the care of the health service. We are committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities, which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services over the past number of years. This year alone, the HSE has allocated €1.9 billion to its disability services programme. This is an increase of about €314 million in the lifetime of this Government since 2016.

As part of its ongoing service provision, the HSE will provide more than 8,500 residential places this year to families in need. In fact, residential services make up two thirds of the disability budget. Our policy is for people with disabilities to be supported to achieve their full potential in order that, where possible, they can live ordinary lives, in ordinary places, doing ordinary things. Residential placements are provided on the basis of need and within available resources. The HSE engages with families to ensure that those with the greatest need are prioritised. Where residential placements are not immediately available, the HSE provides supports for families including day and respite services, home support and personal assistant services, early intervention services and multidisciplinary supports for children and adults. The need for increased respite and residential facilities is acknowledged and I accept that point. However, the HSE continues to work with agencies to explore various ways of responding to this need as it arises and in line with the budget available.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that the Minister will not go into too much detail on this issue. The child was originally brought to the hospital in respect of a medical matter. I am not a doctor, but I agree that he does not need hospital care in Our Lady of Lourdes. However, there is no doubt that he needs further support from CAMHS and occupational or other appropriate therapists. I provided the Minister of State with the full details of this case prior to the debate. On behalf of the family, I beg him to do everything possible to get this child out of the hospital and into an appropriate setting. He does not belong or wish to be in the hospital and his parents do not want him to be there, but there is nowhere else for him to go. It is important that this be treated as a top priority. We know that there are significant deficiencies in this area generally. This child has fallen through the cracks of HSE services over the past year and a half. I met him and he is a lovely child, but he has autism and needs strong support to be provided immediately. I cannot overemphasise the pressing and urgent need for this child to be provided the appropriate support now. I am begging the Minister of State on behalf of the parents because that is what they want me to do. They want the child to come home when the appropriate interventions have been made and appropriate therapies given and that needs to happen as soon as possible.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I accept the Deputy's point that there is an urgent need and that this must be a top priority. I am aware of the details and will deal with this issue directly. We all share a common desire for the best possible policies and services for people with disabilities, including autism, and particularly in the case of children with special needs. In my capacity as Minister of State, I want everyone with additional needs to have access to the necessary support in every aspect of their lives to enable them to achieve their full potential, maximise their independence and live a rich and fulfilling life. I wish to acknowledge the difficulties experienced by this and other families. I have been assured by the HSE that it continues to liaise with the family to resolve this issue. I fully acknowledge the concerns raised by the Deputy in respect of this child. I have been further assured by the HSE that it is actively addressing this issue and exploring all possible options in terms of securing an appropriate service for the child as a matter of urgency. I will ensure it is treated as an urgent matter.