Results 4,141-4,160 of 10,939 for speaker:Anne Rabbitte

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: It certainly does. It is important that it happens in a timely fashionable and is measurable and accountable. While I talk about the 743 therapists, I need to see those numbers go down and find their way into positions. We need to go from a 30% to 40% gap in vacancies. I need to near my 90% operational piece, where I can have trainee therapists on site. That is my ambition and it has to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Some of the 743 posts will include special schools posts, which were halted last year. There were 85 therapists posts, but some of them have been recruited into. It does not include all special schools. They are a make-up of the posts I recruited for in 2021 and to date in 2022, and the additional 85 special schools posts last year. People have also failed to identify that we have lost...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: The Senator brought up a number of issues. He asked about supporting families and needing to get assessments of needs completed. Families feel there is no option because they are left waiting for so long. That is why I spoke about outsourcing. The assessment varies depending on the need as well. In some cases it could be €1,000 or €2,500, depending on the clinical need for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I will start with some of the good news regarding respite care in south Leitrim. The Deputy was there that day. We were very fortunate that when we all sat around the table we could find solutions. The solutions were within the Sligo site. Everybody was pleased about that. My understanding is that one of those houses is being worked on as we speak. The HSE told me it would be January,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Access to children's disability network teams was misunderstood as the progressing disability services, PDS, programme model was being rolled out. The access policy states that it should be the closest to home or the closest to your school. The parent has that choice. That was part of the original PDS model from 2009. As it was being rolled out last year, there was perhaps some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Believe it or not, there has been funding in the budget for adults since 2005. Funding was announced in the budget two years ago for the first time ever. We are now providing adult teams for assessments as part of the CDNT. It was ring-fenced in budget 2021.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: A structure has been put in place and we will build out those teams.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Absolutely. I was on the site. For anyone here who does not know it, it is a claustrophobic building, so it is not the right environment for a child with high sensory needs. It is a closed space with narrow corridors. One feels that people with additional needs could hardly breathe, particularly if they are on the autism spectrum. I support both of the Deputy and the Chairman on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy. Aids and appliances are a priority of mine. A total of €540 million is spent every year on aids and appliances and yet I hear about children outgrowing their wheelchairs, not getting access to their shoes and not getting timely assessments for the right equipment. The point I am making is we need to work with education within disability. Within my own...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Senator. What she has reflected there is that this is about integrated delivery of services. That is integration between education, health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. That must be the new conversation piece. If we are true to our line on the UNCRPD, it has to be about integration and the Government working together across...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Absolutely. I totally understand why those families are asking us because they hear there are four weeks of July provision and they are lucky if they get a week and they hear they might get two weeks. Then they might hear of a fantastic provider where people get the four weeks and are wondering why they cannot have the same. I also need to recognise, as it would be wrong of me not to, that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I hear exactly what she is saying about the ECCE staff. Those staff finish up at the end of June and could be available and to be included as part of the scheme. Why not? We need as many people trained in creating that awareness and understanding of how to work with and support. That is what is should be about. On transport, I am not the Minister with responsibility and I have to keep...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: That is a fair point. We cannot have an ad hocapproach. It needs to be planned. We know how many children need support from our services. It is not like we do not know our numbers; we clearly know them. Planning has to be part of the solution. Putting out an advert in the middle of July like that is nearly wilful neglect by the units there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Chair and members for their time. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to come before this new committee. As I said, the reason I have been invested in the autism innovation strategy is not because I want to create new legislation; it is because I want to knit what we currently have in place and make it work, and to operationalise the system through me being in the centre...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy. He spoke about my Department actively engaging with other Departments. I believe that is what I am doing. If one can imagine a spider's web, I am stuck in the middle of it and I am trying to work across government and Departments and with all Ministers to find gaps where they exist in the system and address how it works or does not work. I referred earlier to play and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artists' Remuneration (7 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I am aware of the Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics (DADA) campaign and have met with them on multiple occasions to discuss their concerns. A further meeting involving myself, Minister Roderic O’Gorman T.D. and representatives of DADA is scheduled for 27 July. My Department has responsibility for the development and implementation of disability policy, and this is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (7 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 135 together. Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007. I recognise the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (7 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: As part of Autism Awareness Month, in April 2021, I announced the Government’s intention to launch an Autism Innovation Strategy to deliver real and tangible solutions to address the challenges and barriers faced by people with autism across Ireland. I want to ensure that people with autism are given the opportunity to participate in all stages of the development of the Autism...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (7 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: Ireland is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), following ratification in March 2018. Under this Convention, the effective participation of, and consultation with, persons with disabilities, including children, in the development and implementation of policy and legislation is essential. I am committed to fulfilling Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (7 Jul 2022)

Anne Rabbitte: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant. The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain charitable organisations. In response to recent concerns...