Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter. I have good deal to say on this issue and I share her concern about those particular cases. I will deal first with the broader issues involved and then respond to the issue she raised. I commend her on her work in area of disabilities, particularly in the Limerick and north Tipperary areas. I thank her for her support of the Irish Sign Language Bill taken earlier this week. I appreciate that.

There has been a steady annual increase in the number of applications since the commencement of the Act in 2009. The current number of applications received in 2017 in the mid-west is 342, and the number is 362 for all of 2016. Of this number, 66%, or 237, of the applications have had assessment reports completed on time - the figure is 52%, or 222 for all of 2016. However, the HSE is facing significant challenges in respect of meeting the statutory timeframes that apply to the assessment of need process, given the number and complexity of cases. Assessment of need applicants whose needs are deemed too complex for assessment at primary care level are seen for assessment by the mid-west children's disability network teams. These applicants can require a longer period of diagnostic assessment. This can often require assessment observation across a number of settings such as home, school and with a number of allied health care professionals to best identify the child’s health needs. As such, these complex cases cannot be always completed within the 12-week statutory timeframe. Some require ten to 15 sessions under the assessment of need process in order to complete a comprehensive assessment of their health needs.

It is also important to note that the HSE has recognised that early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities need to be improved and organised more effectively and this process is well under way nationwide. That relates to the concerns the Senator raised regarding the delays and the child not getting a school place. To me, that is unacceptable because every child has a right to education, particularly children with disabilities.

The HSE is currently engaged in the reconfiguration of existing therapy resources under the national programme on progressing disability services for children and young people aged from zero up to 18 years. The aims of this programme are to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children and their families to disability services, regardless of where they live, what school the child attends or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties. The aforementioned reconfiguring of disability services for children is part of the progressing disability services for children and young people programme, as there is evidence that where integrated teams are operating, the assessment of need process runs more smoothly.

The HSE disability services have carried out substantial work on developing standardised operational procedures for assessment of need. These procedures are currently being finalised and will be implemented by the end of the year. I have just come from a meeting this morning with senior officials in the Department of Health in Hawkins House where we discussed disability issues and this issue also came up. I will convey to the Department of Health and to the senior Minister the concerns the Senator has raised.