Results 221-240 of 9,532 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disabilities Assessments (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: I do not have a breakdown of the numbers of children who have gone through the process but there has been a 65% increase in assessments in the first three months compared with the same period last year. Even with that said, we know we have a lot more work to do to get through that. I might not have said it earlier, but we absolutely acknowledge people’s statutory right to have access...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for his question. This Government is committed to enhancing the delivery of supports and services for all children in Ireland with additional needs, including autistic children. It is important to emphasise that an autism assessment or an assessment of need is not required for a child to access primary care, CDNTs or CAMHS. The Government accepts that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Senator Rabbitte for raising this issue and offering me the opportunity to respond. The Government is fully committed to supporting efforts to ensure the necessary supports for people with disabilities, along with their families, and to ensuring they are provided in a timely manner, not just in our home county of Galway but right across the country. As the Senator is aware, the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Senator again for raising this issue. I am keen to ensure all opportunities are explored in regard to the Toghermore campus and that the services are provided for the benefit of the locals and the surrounding communities. I reiterate this Government's commitment to delivering real and tangible solutions to enhance services and to better support the needs of adults and children...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question regarding the staffing of Children’s Disability Network Teams. There are 93 Children’s Disability Network Teams and in line with the Progressing Disability Services model these 93 teams are aligned to 96 Community Healthcare Networks across the country. CDNTs provide services and supports for children aged from birth to 18...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: Both the Government and the HSE are acutely aware of the ongoing challenges in the recruitment and retention of therapists across the 93 Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), including those in Limerick. Nationally, the CDNTs continue to support over 43,000 but I do recognise the need for more therapists in CDNTs and the impact these delays have on children and young...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disabilities Assessments (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: This Government absolutely recognises that waiting times for assessment of need are far too long and have a significant impact on delivering on the needs of children and their families. Both this Department and the HSE have been working intensively to progress measures to reduce and waiting times. I really want to emphasise to parents that while children have a right to apply for an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: Children’s disability services are primarily focused on therapeutic supports for children and young people with complex requirements, including those with autism and other neurodiverse needs. The National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People is the guiding policy for children’s services. The policy aims to provide for all children with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: My department has engaged significantly with stakeholders to address the needs of children with disabilities, including those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Since becoming Minister of State for Disabilities, I have worked with key partners across government and the HSE to ensure the delivery of therapies through the 93 Children’s Disability Network Teams. The Service...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: In August 2024, the Government agreed to support the special schools’ pilot for enhanced in-school therapy supports. The pilot is delivered by Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) led by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and its funded agencies, in 16 selected special schools in Cork, Dublin and Galway and is supported by the National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Autism Innovation Strategy was published in August 2024. The Strategy contains 83 actions across four core pillars which will be delivered over an 18-month implementation period. 11 Government Departments and related public bodies have committed to leading on, or supporting, actions in the Strategy. This Government is committed to the full implementation of the Strategy, and this is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: Geomaps, also known as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), is a technology that offers numerous benefits by making information accessible in a visual format. In relation to specialist disability services, this could assist individuals and their families to access information on services in their local community. Options for a mapping project are currently being explored with the aim...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: A substantial budget of €3.2bn is provided by my Department for HSE Disability Services in 2025. The allocation is exceeding €3 billion for the first time ever. This represents an increase of €330 million, or 11.6%, over the 2024 allocation. It follows several year-on-year funding increases into the sector. Funding is maintaining existing levels of disability service...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am advised by the Health Service Executive that the most recent data for Monaghan Children’s Disability Network Team recorded 61 children on the waiting list at the end of May. I recognise the progress made by Monaghan CDNT staff to tackle the waitlist. During April, 508 children and/or their parents were offered an initial contact, an individual or group intervention...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Autism Innovation Strategy was launched on 26 August 2024. This ambitious Strategy contains 83 actions formulated to make a meaningful difference to the lives of autistic people over the 18-month timeframe of the Strategy, and which provide a solid foundation for improved mainstream accommodation of autism. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the full implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Roadmap 2023 – 2026, launched by the HSE in October 2023, focuses on the ongoing development of Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) services to meet current and growing demand. As Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, I acknowledge the current delays for children with disabilities across the country in accessing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (17 Jun 2025)

Hildegarde Naughton: Finalisation and publication of the new National Disability Strategy is a clear priority for Government, and publication is expected in early course. In keeping with the Programme for Government, work is ongoing to establish robust delivery and monitoring structures that will include enhanced political oversight and clear mechanisms for accountability, including with the involvement of...