Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to address to this issue. Anytime we focus on an issue such as this it is very welcome because it allows a very challenged HSE management and service to refocus and re-prioritise a particular service. I welcome the opportunity the Senator has given myself, the officials in the Department, the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, the HSE officials and management in the Cork and Kerry community health services to refocus and reorient attention towards this issue. I appreciate the Senator's point about the second quarter of 2019 being quite a while away for a child who has a need today. Every day there is delay in the delivery of a service is to be regretted rather than celebrated. I will take his plea on board and reiterate it along the chain to see that we refocus and re-prioritise.

Funding for an additional 100 therapists for children with disabilities was announced in the budget and we look forward to that having an impact on the bigger, macro picture over time.