Seanad debates

Wednesday, 13 December 2017

Commencement Matters

Speech Therapist Services

10:30 am

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I remind Members that they have four minutes. The Minister of State, Deputy Daly, has been waiting impatiently to go into action. If I do not see the Minister of State before then, I wish him and his family a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, to the Chamber. I was shocked last week when a parent described how one of her children who has autism has not been in receipt of speech therapy since September. A principal in the locality told me that the reality on the ground is that unless a parent or a family is willing to set aside the time to scream and shout at the top of their lungs, they will not get the requisite attention from the education or health systems that their children deserve. She made the point that given that sometimes families can be collapsing trying to meet the needs of their children, to expect them to campaign as well for the assistance they so greatly need is completely unrealistic, unnecessary and unfair.

We seem to have a system held together with straw. We still have an issue with maternity leave not being covered. Speech therapy is a patchwork of a service in the area that I am most familiar with in northside Dublin. I can only imagine what it is like around the country. What words of comfort would the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, have for the mother who spoke to me about her child, who has autism, and who has not been able to access speech therapy for her son since September?

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator Ó Ríordáin for raising this important issue and highlighting it in the House. I assure him that the Government appreciates the difficulties these waiting times put on parents and the difficulties faced by those affected by the waiting times for children to access speech and language therapy. In recognising this, in last year's service plan, the HSE put €4 million aside and took on 83 full-time staff to address the front-line speech and language therapy waiting lists in the past year, focusing on children up to 18 years old. I am advised that nearly all of the posts have now been filled. Nationally, this investment has resulted in a reduction of nearly 10% in the overall waiting lists for those under 18 for the period from July 2016 to the end of October 2017.

With regard to the particular area raised by Senator Ó Ríordáin, I am advised by the HSE that, under the funding initiative, community health organisation, CHO, Dublin north city and county, Area 9, was allocated 13 additional posts, all of which have been filled. This gives a total of more than 71 whole-time equivalent speech and language therapy staff for children’s services in the CHO area. I understand that there are currently only three vacancies. One is in the process of being filled and requests have been made to fill the other two which are maternity leave related. I am advised that the managers of the services endeavour to maintain service provision where possible in the interim. I also understand that those waiting a service can avail of drop-in advice clinics while pre-assessment talks and additional group interventions have been offered during 2017. Significant progress has been made to address waiting lists in CHO Area 9 in the past year. As a result children no longer wait over 24 months for an assessment and only six children currently wait for more than 12 months for an assessment. Additionally, the overall waiting lists for under 18s in CHO Area 9 were reduced by nearly 18% for the period July 2016 to end October 2017 thus outperforming the national figure for the same period. That said, for any child to have to wait more than 12 months is unsatisfactory. Through the additional posts and other national initiatives, the Government hopes the number will continue to decrease.

One such initiative is the establishment of the HSE's speech and language therapy service review group. Its principal focus is to recommend an evidence-based national model for speech and language therapy provision in primary and social care that focuses on children aged up to 18 years. In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits that a new speech and language service in schools will be established to support young children as part of a more integrated support system. The report of the HSE's review group will inform a new model being developed by a joint working group that is led by the Department of Education and Skills. Funding of €2 million was allocated under budget 2018 to develop and implement a pilot model.

It is evident that there has been and continues to be a clear commitment by this Government to enhance the provision of speech and language therapy services, particularly for children. Focused interventions, supported by dedicated funding for early intervention and prevention services, not only greatly benefits children they also go a long way to address the concerns of parents that their children receive timely and appropriate services.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. Briefly, Senator Ó Ríordáin.

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I appreciate the detailed nature of his reply and his acceptance that it is not good enough that six children have waited for more than 12 months for an assessment. Does he concede, notwithstanding the investment that is clearly being made, that there is still a level of desperation being felt on the ground? Does he concede that the connectivity between his words and the reality experienced by school principals, teachers and parents in certain parts of this city does not exist? Parents need to be in their homes to help their children through their formative years, which can be a difficult period so the last thing parents need to be are campaigners. Can he assure us that any parent whose child is in need of speech therapy will not have to wait for months for therapy to be resumed? Does he accept that a situation where maternity leave breaks that service is unacceptable?

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Briefly, Minister of State.

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Cathaoirleach that I will be brief. Yes, I can assure parents. Parenting is very difficult and we, as parents and practising politicians, understand the stresses and strains involved. I am very confident that the review group is making significant progress in this area. There is a keen focus on the area at HSE management level. The solution includes funding and the organisation of structures within the existing services. I cannot give the Senator a cast-iron assurance that parents will not have to wait months for the services. I am hopeful and confident that numbers will continue to decrease and that we will see more positive news on this area in the future.

Again, I thank the Senator for raising the matter and welcome the opportunity to focus on the matter.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State and Senator Ó Ríordáin. In the event of the Minister of State not being in the House again before Christmas I wish him and his family a very peaceful and election-free Christmas and new year.

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Many happy returns.