Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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76. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the chronic lack of services within the children's disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61249/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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77. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the engagement that he has had on the provision of staffing numbers at children's disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56898/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Funding has been provided to the HSE for additional posts in recent years to strengthen the capacity of Children’s Disability Network Teams to ensure services can be enhanced. This funding provides for over 600 additional Whole Time Equivalent posts for Children’s Teams throughout the country.  

However, HSE Disability Services continue to experience ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining staff across all disciplines and grades on their Children’s Network Teams. Most of the disciplines working in CDNTs are similar to those working in other areas of the health and social care sector, both public and private.

The HSE continues to pursue a range of options to enhance the recruitment and retention of essential staff across all aspects of the health services, such as:

- Targeted National & International Recruitment for CDNTs, to include an agreed relocation allowance where appropriate.

- Both Apprentice and Sponsorship Programmes for therapy grades

- Employment of graduates as therapy assistants as they await CORU registration, and

- Expansion of therapy assistants in the system with HSE supporting individuals to return to education to qualify as therapists.