Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement she has had on the policy of progressing disability services; and if she has contacted other Ministers regarding the policy. [16167/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme (PDS), is a programme under the remit of the HSE and the Department of Health, for the provision of Health services and supports for children, in order to:

- Provide a clear pathway and fairer access to services for all children with a disability. 

- Make the best use of available resources for the benefit of all children and their families

- Ensure effective teams are working in partnership with families and with education staff to support children with a disability to reach their full potential.

Questions in relation to the implementation of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme should therefore be addressed to the Minister for Health and the Minister of State at theDepartment of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration with responsibility for Disability.

This transfer of therapy supports out of schools into the community has caused some concern among schools and families, particularly at a time when speech and language and occupation therapists have been redeployed by the HSE to priority Covid-19 work.  I will engage with those Ministers, as necessary, to ensure that any concerns regarding transitions which are occurring under the PDS programme, which effect families or special schools, are raised.