Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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798. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on difficulties involving taking children out of schools to attend speech and language therapy at outside venues when teachers and school management have worked very hard on attendance; if she will consult the Department of Health on the possibility of having speech and language therapy take place in school settings; if she has examined the feasibility of this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11753/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of health supports, including Speech and Language Therapy services, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive.

The Health Service Executive is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into geographically based multidisciplinary teams, as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years).

This Programme is based on the recommendations of the Report of the National Reference Group on Multidisciplinary Services for Children aged 5-18 Years, which was produced by representatives of the professions and management involved in delivering multidisciplinary services to children.

Its key objective 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, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child's difficulties.

The Executive is working very closely with the education sector, which is fully involved in the development and implementation of the Programme, to ensure that, from the children's and parents' perspective, the services provided by each sector are fully integrated.

The transition to this new model is taking place on a phased basis and includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including service users and their families.

The Programme is a key priority for the Executive's Social Care Directorate in 2015. An additional €4 million was specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts. A further additional €4m (full year cost of €6m) has been allocated this year to assist in implementing the Programme.

Implementation of this Programme will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services for all children requiring access to health related supports, regardless of where they live or which preschool or school they attend.