Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children's disability network teams, CDNTs, in both community healthcare organisation area 3, CHO 3, and community healthcare organisation area 5, CHO 5; the locations in which each team is based; the numbers of staff in whole-time equivalent, WTE, terms approved for each team; the numbers currently assigned to each team; the number of vacant positions on each team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52416/22]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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How many CDNTs are in CHO 3 and CHO 5? Where are each of the teams based? How many staff in WTE terms are approved for each team? How many are currently assigned to each team? How many vacant positions are there in each team? I ask the Minister of State to make a statement on these matters.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I will be giving a lot of figures so I hope he has a biro. There are seven and 12 children's disability teams in the areas the Deputy asked about. In CHO 3, there are seven and in CHO 5, there are 12. One of the seven teams in CHO 3 is HSE-led and the rest are led by our partner organisations. I will go through the statistics for CHO 3 first. In Blackberry Park, the lead agency for which is Enable Ireland, the vacancy level is 10%. In Clare, where there is a HSE team, the vacancy level is 12%. In east Limerick, where the Daughters of Charity is the lead agency, the vacancy level is 4%. In south Limerick, where St. Gabriel's is the lead agency, there is a vacancy level of 88%. That is a new team that has just formed so we are not to be alarmed by that figure. In north Tipperary, which will be of particular interest to the Deputy, Enable Ireland is the lead agency and the vacancy level is 38%. In The Treehouse, where St. Gabriel's is the lead agency, the vacancy level is 7%. In west Limerick, where the Brothers of Charity is the lead agency, the vacancy rate is 3%.

I will move on to Carlow, and I see Deputy Murnane O'Connor is in the Chamber and will be interested to hear some of these figures. Ten of the 12 teams in Carlow are HSE-led. I will go through the list. In Carlow, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 23%. In Cashel, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 20%. In Clonmel, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 37%. In Dungarvan west, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 54%, which is extremely concerning. In Enniscorthy, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 41%. In Gorey, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 41%. In Kilkenny, Enable Ireland is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 9%. In New Ross, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 55%, which is extremely concerning. In Thomastown, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 28%. In Waterford north city, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 32%. In Waterford south, the Central Remedial Clinic is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 29%. In Wexford, the HSE is the lead agency and the vacancy rate is 40%.

The vacancy rates for individual CDNTs are available. The latest HSE national CDNT and workforce review from April this year states that CHO 3 has an improved CDNT staff complement of 163 whole-time equivalents. Of those posts, 140 have been filled.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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I will allow Deputy Murnane O'Connor to talk about Carlow and Kilkenny. The three figures the Minister of State shared in respect of Tipperary are extremely concerning. There are vacancy rates of 38% in north Tipperary, 20% in Cashel and 37% in Clonmel. Those are disturbing figures. There is no way to have an effective operation with vacancy rates such as those.

CDNTs are only staffed to approximately 50% of the level required, according to Professor Malcolm MacLachlan, clinical lead for people with disabilities at the HSE. Will the Minister of State update the House in that regard? Have we plans to try to increase staffing levels in those vital teams?

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I agree that the vacancy levels in north Tipperary, Cashel and Clonmel are concerning. There is no denying that whatsoever. There are plans afoot within the HSE for a progressive recruitment plan. It is only to do with CDNTs but applies across the disability sector. We have looked within and outside Ireland as a part of that recruitment campaign. We are flushing through all the panels to ensure that people can be recruited in as timely a process as possible. I note that where our lead agencies are left to do the recruiting, they are quicker and more timely and efficient. It is areas where the HSE is the lead agency that have large deficits. Our partners in the delivery of disability services have a much quicker recruitment process and are capable of recruiting.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I know how hard the Minister of State is working but I can only say that we have enormous issues in Carlow. The CDNT in Carlow has over 200 children on its waiting list for autism assessment. I understand that children are taken off the list by the CDNT per date order unless prioritised as a high risk. I can correct that if need be but that is my understanding. I am sure the Minister of State will correct me if I am wrong. These children are getting lost in the system. It is important that we get these assessments done. The Minister of State knows the importance of timing for children's assessments. I ask her to come back to me on that point. I also ask that we get as many assessments through as quickly as possible.

While she is here, I will say to the Minister of State that I have submitted parliamentary questions about primary care in Tullow for the past five years. I cannot even get word from the HSE about the whereabouts of the site. I am told funding is available. Perhaps the Minister of State will come back to me on that matter. I know she will.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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In respect of the assessments of need, which the Deputy has raised, I was fortunate, with the help of my good colleague, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to secure €11.5 million to address the backlog for assessments of need. The last time I got such funding, we managed to clear that backlog. However, it is no good clearing the backlog unless we have a proper process for the timely delivery of interventions. To that end, the funding has now been secured and the plan has been put in place for delivering and administering the service across the country. There are concerns in respect of CHO 5, and I say that openly. Ten of the 12 teams in the area are HSE teams. They have a good opportunity to recruit. They are able to recruit into mental health and services for older persons. They are able to recruit into primary care. I must continuously ask them why we cannot do the same in the disability sector.