Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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784. To ask the Minister for Health the number of new therapy posts he has filled in children's disability services in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10103/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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785. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered a proposal by the Laois Offaly Families for Autism to deploy psychologists from community and primary care services to clear the backlog for assessments and referrals for services for school age children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10104/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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786. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting lists for assessment and referral to a psychologist for school age children with disabilities in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10105/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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787. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting lists for referrals to individual therapists for school age children with disabilities in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10106/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 784 to 787, inclusive, together.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people and disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Building on additional investment in recent years, funding of €8m is being provided to the HSE in 2016 to expand the provision of Speech and Language Therapy in primary care and the further development of early intervention therapy services under the Progressing Disabilities Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability in mainstream pre-school settings, as part of the roll out of the new inclusive preschools model.

Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific area referred too. 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.