Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

11. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of 22 October 2015 regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24, the status of the serious delays in the provision of occupational therapy and other treatments from the school age team in the Dublin South-West area; the measures that were taken to improve the Health Service Executive's situation; his views on the staffing issues in Galro which are resulting in delays in the provision of important treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42716/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government currently provides funding of approximately €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2015. The HSE aims to ensure that the resources available are used to best effect, in order to provide assessment and ongoing therapy to children in line with their prioritised needs. However, it is acknowledged that current waiting lists for some therapeutic supports are high.

In 2013, additional funding of €20m was provided to strengthen primary care services. This comprised of €18.5m for the recruitment of over 260 primary care team posts and over €1.4m to support community intervention team development.

In 2014, the roll out of theProgressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme entailed targeted investment of €4m and the provision of 80 additional therapy staff. A further €4m allocation is being allocated in 2015 to continue work on this initiative. The key objective of the Progressing Disability Services 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. Full implementation of the Programmeis expected before the end of 2016.

An additional €8m will be provided in 2016 to expand the provision of speech and language therapy through primary care services and to support the reorganisation and expansion of therapy services under the Progressing Disability Services Programme.

I am confident that the additional resources being invested into both primary care and disability services will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services to all children with disabilities, including those who may currently be on waiting lists to access therapy inputs.

The approved complement for the HSE Dublin South West Disability School Age Team has been increased to seven front line posts. While the two occupational therapist posts on the team are vacant, these are in the process of being recruited. The posts are expected to be filled by early next year.

In addition the HSE has informed me that the child referred to in the Deputy’s question is being provided with ten hours of home support by a Behaviour Support Specialist with the necessary input and oversight of Psychologists. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide support to the child and his parents and to develop a behaviour support plan. This arrangement has been in place since September 2015 and is being provided by a private provider contracted by the Executive.