Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff recruited in CDNTs in Cork in the past 12 months; and the number who resigned or left. [61723/25]

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister of State to update the House on the number of staff that have been recruited in CDNTs in Cork in the past 12 months and the number who have either left or resigned. At the moment, we are facing a crisis in the CDNT units in Cork.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Government and I recognise the importance of early intervention for children with disabilities and of ensuring they receive the right services at the right time. For children with complex needs, these services are delivered through the CDNTs across the country. In 2025, the CDNTs will provide supports and services to almost 45,000 children with complex needs. This is an increase of some 2,000 children in receipt of services at the end of December 2024. Despite increasing pressures on waiting lists across the country, the number of children on waiting lists has fallen from nearly 13,000 in January to 10,579 at the end of August, which is a reduction of 18%. The HSE has advised the Department that of the 14 CDNTs in HSE South West, a total of 11 provide services in Cork city and county. The approved number of whole-time equivalent posts for the Cork area at the end of September 2025.was 308.77. Of these posts, 234.73 were filled, with a further 32.42 post holders on various types of leave. The Cork area CDNTs are therefore staffed to 87% with a 13% vacancy rate. We acknowledge the current delays in accessing interventions. Work is ongoing by the HSE to maximise the capacity of the CDNTs via recruitment campaigns and other measures. The Government has made funding available in 2025 for children’s services to build on existing recruitment initiatives, focusing on various positions across CDNTs.

A further €8 million has been secured in budget 2026 to allow for the recruitment of 150 staff to the CDNTs. Recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals is the most significant challenge and work is ongoing to increase those staffing levels also.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am sorry but what was the first figure?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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At the end of September 2025 the whole-time equivalent posts for the Cork area was 308.77. Of those, 234.73 were filled and there were a further 32.42 post holders on various types of leave.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. The only thing about that figure - she said there was 87% staffing and only 13% vacancy - is that if you take off the 32 staff members who are out sick, on maternity leave or off work for whatever reason, it means the figure is down to a 75% staffing level, which means there is a 25% vacancy rate. If a person goes on maternity leave, is out sick or is out of work for whatever reason, that post still needs to be covered. If it is not, then the children who need the therapies that staff member gives are not getting them. It is very important we do not manipulate the figures here. I am not suggesting the Minister of State is doing that by any means but the Department is supplying her with figures. The figure she gave was 308 and with 234 - someone will have to check my maths - that is a 75% occupancy rate of staff. I am saying if people are on maternity leave or whatever kind of leave, there must be replacement staff for them and the other staff need to be recruited as soon as possible.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. He is not disputing the figures. These are the figures that were supplied to me and they include, as he has outlined as well, those who are on various types of leave. Across the board we are engaging in recruitment campaigns. Student placements within our CDNTs continue to be expanded because we want to encourage those on placements within in our teams, so they will come back to work in those settings. There are also a number of bursaries in place to encourage therapists and social care workers to work in our CDNTs. Clinical placements have happened in our CDNTs. They have increased by 55% in the 2024-2025 academic year compared with the preceding one. There are also recruitment drives and new roles and training pathways are being developed to expand the skills mix and strengthen the applicant pools. This also includes developing the role of health and social care assistant and therapy assistant in 2024. There are a range of measures around recruitment here.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I have just double-checked my figures there and 308 full-time with 234 in place is 76%. That means there are 74 therapist staff members who are vital to delivering really urgent therapies to children. If the Minister of State Googles CDNTs and what they do, she will read they are about child development and permitting kids to reach their maximum potential. How can children reach their maximum potential if they are not getting the therapists, therapies and the support they need? How heartbreaking must it be for parents to look at their child not getting the support, therapies or the vital help they need from the State? If these children do not get the support when they need it, they will never catch up. It will have a lifelong effect on their ability to develop, be the best they can be and live to their potential. There needs to be an urgent recruitment policy with additional funding because we need to get 100% staffing levels, and anyone who is out must be covered.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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On the Deputy's last point, that is exactly what we are doing. I am not disputing the fact we absolutely need to increase recruitment. There is a huge amount of work happening. In budget 2026 €8 million has been secured to allow for the funding of 150 staff for our CDNTs and the configuration of these posts is under review by the HSE. That expands on the funding of €2.85 million which was made available in 2025 for children’s services. Also, the programme for Government commits to a doubling of the number of college places for speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, psychologists and social workers. In June the Government approved an expansion in training places that will provide up to 361 additional student places by 2028, with the majority of those commencing this year. We have a student sponsorship programme that was advertised by the HSE in April. That will support health and social care professional graduates to take up a job in CDNTs by providing financial sponsorship as part of their education costs. That will then be matched with a job within our CDNTs. That is just an example of the funding investment that is going in here, the recruitment and the awareness campaigns. I assure the Deputy everything that can be done is being done but if he has suggestions, my door is open in relation to this recruitment and retention drive.