Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I want to talk about some shocking statistics. Some 78% of all children, particularly those with disabilities, wait more than the statutory maximum of three months for an assessment. There has been a 50% increase in children waiting more than 12 months for a speech and language initial assessment or therapy appointment. The figures for Kildare, which were released to me recently, show that waiting times for interventions for children were up to 60 weeks. If a child required a diagnostic assessment for ASD, he or she could be waiting for a year. This is absolutely outrageous. The Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for disability must recognise these shortfalls in order to overcome them.

We are not talking about luxuries but, literally, a passport for life for children because it would help them develop their own skills. A child who needs a special needs assessment when starting school has absolutely no opportunity of having one. It is absolutely shocking that there are delays of 12 months and more. A number of parents have been in contact with me and it is heart-rending to hear of parents trying to save money to pay for treatment to help their children. We all know that early intervention is key to ensuring children with disabilities and difficulties can live the best life possible. In order for schools, the community and the State to be able to support children, we need to have these assessments on a timely basis, to be followed by the necessary interventions.

Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am disappointed that the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Finian McGrath, is not in the House for this important matter but I acknowledge his engagement with me, on a one-to-one basis and alongside the different groups I have brought in from my constituency.

I represent Kildare North, which is in the CHO 7 area. There is an assessment of need and there are then follow-up services and care, based on what was identified in the assessment of need. The assessment takes approximately two years from the application date to the appointment date. What is of most concern is that when the assessment of need is carried out, the programme of supports and services identified as critical to help a child meet his or her full potential, whether it is occupational therapy, speech and language therapy or physiotherapy, particularly in the area of ASD, is not provided for two years or more. That is completely and utterly unacceptable and unfair because these children are the most vulnerable in society. They are being cared for and loved by their parents who have to fight every step of the way for everything. The whole process needs to be reviewed and an intervention, either with funding or better accountability, is required.

Parents have come to me having borrowed between €1,600 and €2,500 from loan sharks to cover the cost of an assessment of need for their children. This is unacceptable.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach as an deis labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. I thank Deputies O'Loughlin and O'Rourke for raising this important issue today. The Disability Act provides for an assessment of need for people with disabilities. Any child born on or after 1 June 2002 who is suspected of having a disability is eligible to apply for an assessment of need that will detail his or her health needs arising from the disability. Since its commencement in 2007, there have been significant year on year increases in the number of children applying both for assessment of need and disability services generally. Unfortunately, these increases have led to the extended waiting periods currently being experienced. Both the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, on whose behalf I am speaking today, and the HSE recognise that assessments of need and early intervention services are essential in supporting children with disabilities and their families. I am aware that the HSE has undertaken a number of initiatives to address the excessive waiting times. To improve the assessment of need process and ensure that children receive an intervention as soon as is possible, the HSE has developed a new standard operating procedure for the assessment of need process. The purpose of this is to ensure children with disabilities and their families access appropriate assessment and intervention as quickly as possible. In addition, it will ensure that the approach to assessment of need is consistent across all HSE community healthcare organisation, CHO, areas.

It is intended that the procedure will be implemented nationally from the fourth quarter of 2019. Both the HSE and the National Disability Authority have identified that an increase in therapy resources is required to meet current unmet need and projected future needs in children's disability services nationally. Budget 2019 provided funding for an additional 100 therapy posts to help to reduce the long waiting times for assessment of need and enable children with disabilities to access timely assessment and intervention. Some of these posts are in place and many others are at varying stages of the recruitment process. The HSE expects to have all new posts in place by the end of this year. In addition, HSE disability services is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources tor children with disabilities into multidisciplinary geographically based teams, as part of its national programme on progressing disability services for children and young people under 18 years of age. The key objective of this programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their difficulties. Evidence to date from areas where this has been rolled out shows that implementation of this programme will also have a positive impact on waiting lists both for assessments of need and therapy provision. While not addressing all needs, I am confident that these initiatives will have a significant positive impact in reducing waiting times for assessment of need over the course of the next year. I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputies.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister talks about equity of access, consistency of service delivery and a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services regardless of where they live. That is simply not happening anywhere. It is certainly not happening in County Kildare. The reality is that children, especially those with disabilities, are missing out on vital treatments, services and supports which are crucial to improving their quality of life. As of April this year, there were 591 children awaiting speech and language services in County Kildare. Children wait for months for appointments, meaning that they are losing precious months or years in language development. Being able to communicate and develop one's communication skills to the best of one's ability is a basic human right. It is shocking to see the figures stacking up and increasing. Some 910 children are waiting for occupational therapy, of whom 80% have been waiting for more than 30 months. It is simply not good enough and it has to change.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry to cut the Deputy short on such an important issue but I have to keep to the times allotted.

Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his statement. It would be great if it was true. Unfortunately, none of what he is saying reflects reality. In recent years, we have not seen any improvement in waiting times in this area. That is fact. I am not here to play politics but to reflect the real issues we are encountering with the most vulnerable in society. We have to get real and deliver at the coalface for these children, who are the most vulnerable in society. They need this help to reach and maximise their true potential. We must reduce the burden for parents, guardians and families who have to fight 24-7 for their basic right. That is fundamentally wrong. We have to acknowledge that and get better at making things happen for them. It takes up to two years to have an assessment of need done and a further two years for services or therapies to be delivered, which is wrong. That is the reality, notwithstanding the contents of the Minister of State's statement. We have to look at what is happening on the ground, put measures in place to address the issue and direct the funding to where it needs to go to help the most vulnerable in society. This is critical because a group of people in society who are most in need is not reaching its true potential, which is unfair.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputies and assure them that their frustration and concern for children is shared on this side of the House. We understand the impact that this continues to have on children who want to access an education and be treated as equal citizens. As a parent, former teacher and former member of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills under the current Chair, Deputy O'Loughlin, I understand well the impact that these delays are having on people's right to equal access. That is why, in budget 2019, the Government provided funding for 100 new therapy posts across all specialties, not just speech and language therapy but also occupational therapy and physiotherapy. These posts are being assigned on the basis of need. The recruitment of 100 additional therapists is being completed as we speak. I regret it will take some time for that to have an impact on the system. The HSE has adopted a standard operating procedure which should result in a more efficient and equitable allocation of resources such that wherever a child lives, whether Kildare, Cork or Kerry, he or she will not experience a postcode lottery. I am confident that the new standard operating procedure will address that issue but time is needed to see the impact of these steps. We will do more in the coming year for children with special needs. I thank the Deputies for their continued support in this area. The continued focus on it is very welcome for the sake of all children with special needs.