Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the recruitment of additional therapy assistants in the delivery of healthcare services; if therapy assistants will have a role in the provision of healthcare services for persons with a disability, particularly in areas in which there are unacceptable delays at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37494/22]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As I mentioned earlier, I have tabled this parliamentary question in the context of the shortage of occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists. My concern is about the delays in children getting assessments and follow-up treatment. I understand that in Britain much more extensive use is made of therapy assistants, not just in general hospitals but in the provision of services for children with a disability as well. I also understand that our colleges of further education provide necessary courses to enable people to gain those necessary skills or to upskill.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for giving me the chance to answer this question. He is right. Therapy assistants work with, and report to, therapy managers and children’s disability network managers, and work under the supervision and direction of nominated supervisors, as appropriate to the healthcare area and role. While a FETAC level 5 qualification or an equivalent qualification from another jurisdiction is desirable, some staff are employed in therapy assistant roles and are undertaking further training to develop therapy assistant skills and a FETAC level 5 qualification. As part of the ongoing development of the team, all staff, including healthcare and therapy assistants, should participate in ongoing training and development. Within HSE services, there are many ways that staff benefit from education and training from on-the-job learning and HSE courses.

On the question asked, there are opportunities for care assistants and therapy assistants to make up the complement of the teams within the disability network teams. In fact, what we want to do within our disability network teams is create a pathway for employment and career progression and training people on-the-job, coming in at a base level. It does not always have to be a senior clinician post and there are various opportunities along the way, and the therapy assistant post is one of those under consideration.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I very much welcome that response. The Minister of State will recall a meeting I attended, along with other colleagues, with the Minister of State and the Cavan Monaghan parents committee. One of the very strong demands they outlined that day was the need, due to the shortage of therapists, for the HSE to employ therapy assistants. The Minister of State took it upon herself at that meeting to follow up on this matter and I am very glad she is indicating to us tonight that there will be progress and that additional services will be provided.

Again, I cannot emphasise enough the desire of all of us to ensure that delays are eliminated in children getting assessments and follow-up treatment. On that day and at other meetings in counties Cavan and Monaghan, the Minister of State listened to the passion, concern and worry of many parents who are doing everything possible to give the best chance to children with a disability. Sadly, today, too many children do not get an appropriate school setting because of delays in getting assessments and treatment. Hopefully, that can be reversed.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, it is a whole-of-Department of Health response and I am ably supported by the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in trying to find those solutions and putting proposals to the Department of Health and the HSE to take this on board. That is why we met Paul Reid a number of weeks ago in terms of trying to redesign the progressing disability services, PDS, programme and that transition piece and the gaps that are there, trying to work it all out as to the various complements to ensure children get timely access to a service, to assessment and, most importantly, to intervention. This is about having the proper clinical oversight and support and supporting the therapy assistant levels, whether in psychology, in occupational therapy or in physiotherapy. We are totally open to that proposal.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State in her introductory answer referred to on-the-job learning, continuous training and upskilling. I very much welcome that. There are a huge number of very talented people within the general health service who could benefit from upskilling and on-the-job training, and who would then be able to provide additional services to people and enhance the overall delivery of services. There would be a win for everybody, particularly for the people who need the services, who are the most important people in the discussions we have had here tonight with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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There is a clear desire within the Government to ensure that all of our teams are filled. There is a clear desire among the Deputy’s colleagues in government to attract as many staff into the service as possible. It should not be just in urban areas and we need to ensure we can get staff out to rural areas. Creating a career pathway and ensuring people have the ability to engage with these teams, support the families and, most importantly, deliver intervention is what we want to achieve.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Ministers, Deputies and members of the House staff for their co-operation. Some 25 minutes later than scheduled, that concludes the day's business.