Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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164. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 18 December 2014, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current waiting list for the early intervention team in Dublin 15 is now 14 months; the action which he will take to address this situation; and the support which will be made available in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 and their family in the interim. [2991/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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All Health Service Executive areas have significant early intervention services in place for children with disabilities aged zero to eighteen years. These are provided directly by the HSE or by voluntary service providers funded by the HSE. At the same time, the HSE has recognised the need to improve the way in which both early intervention services and services for school aged children are delivered. It is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into multi-disciplinary geographically based teams, as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years).The key objective of this Programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, where these children go to school or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties.

The Programme is a key priority for the HSE’s Social Care Directorate. An additional €4 million was allocated this year to assist in implementing the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts, and further investment in the Programme will take place in 2015. An additional €4 million was specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. Further investment of €4 million will also be made to support the development of therapy services in 2015 (equating to €6 million in a full year). The transition to this new service model is taking place on a phased basis and includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including service users and their families.

Within this context, I have asked the Executive to provide the Deputy with the detailed information that she has requested. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.