Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the fact that latest figures indicate some 230 persons under 18 years of age are waiting more than a year for a first time assessment for occupational therapy in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [38031/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. Occupational Therapy has, as one of its core values, the principle of enabling people to remain in their own homes and communities.

A National Service Improvement Group has been established to review Occupational Therapy waiting times and the Primary Care Division is working with the Chief Officers in each area to address waiting lists. This group is chaired by a Chief Officer. I am confident that the review will have a positive impact on the future delivery of Occupational Therapy services throughout the country.

In relation to treatment waiting lists, the majority of clients once they are assessed move straight to treatment and therefore an additional waiting time does not arise. I am advised by the HSE that Occupational Therapists are addressing high-risk Priority 1 cases including a large number of children's Assessments of Needs cases, which are a legal entitlement. Priority 1 cases also include those with urgent equipment needs to address high safety needs thereby reducing risks to children and their families, and children at high risk of placement breakdown. The Priority 2 waiting list is addressed based on the availability of resources and the HSE endeavours to provide the highest quality of services within available resources.

As of September 2016, the HSE directly employs 1,168 (WTE) Occupational Therapists, which is an increase of 40 WTE since December 2015.