Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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577. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when all therapies will resume within special schools for those children who have high educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16563/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that therapy services, such as Speech and Language Therapy Services, are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health and the service is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The Deputy will be aware that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services was introduced, for a number of schools in the Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 7 Region of South West Dublin, Kildare, and West Wicklow.

Pending any extension of this project, children who require speech and language therapy services will continue to access these services from the Health Service Executive.

Questions in relation to the provision of therapy services, or 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.