Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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608. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the eight therapist posts allocated to County Laois and County Offaly, among 80 posts allocated nationally under progressing disability services, for services for those with disabilities between zero and 18 years of age; the locations where the eight therapists have been placed; the services they offer; the therapists' specialty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19870/15]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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647. To ask the Minister for Health the areas to which the 80 posts under progressing disability services were allocated; the roles these entailed; the number of these posts that were filled; the number that are to be allocated this year; the location where they will be placed; their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20018/15]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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648. To ask the Minister for Health the number of the 80 posts allocated under progressing disability services that were located in County Waterford in 2014; the roles these entailed, the number of these posts that were filled in County Waterford; the number to be allocated this year in County Waterford; the location where they will be placed; their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20019/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 608, 647 and 648 together.

The Health Service Executive has recognised the need to increase the level of consistency and standardisation in the way both early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities, including autism, are delivered.

The Executive 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, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child's difficulties.

The Programme is a key priority for the HSE's Social Care Directorate. An additional €4m was allocated in 2014 to assist in implementing 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.

My Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of the detailed operational issues that she has raised. 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.