Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again thank Senator Byrne. I assure him that, as I have outlined, the Government will continue to work with the HSE to take every step possible to try to ensure the posts are filled. It is not an issue of will or funding; the funding, the desire and the commitment are there. There has not been an expression of interest so far for a couple of those posts I outlined. We want to see the posts filled. It is a particular issue in New Ross. It is also an issue in many other parts of the country, including my own. To address that, we need to see a much stronger pipeline, so steps are being taken with the regard to training and those coming through and qualifying because that is crucial to ensure all of these positions are filled. The Senator is absolutely right that early intervention is crucial. None of us, particularly parents, want to see a child not get the speech and language support whenever they need it. Collectively, we all have to press to try to make progress as quickly as we can. I thank the Senator for raising this matter on behalf of his local CDNT, of parents and of children in his area of New Ross. Following this morning's Commencement matter, I will certainly relay to the Department the points he made and the priority needed to backfill those posts.