Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) provide therapeutic services to children with complex needs arising from their disability. There are 3 CDNT teams operating in County Mayo: CDNT 1 (North Mayo), CDNT 2 (South Mayo (Castlebar) and CDNT 3 (West Mayo (Westport and Ballinrobe).

The current delays in accessing assessments and therapy services, directly related to vacancies across the Mayo CDNTs, are acknowledged and work is ongoing by the HSE to maximise the capacity via recruitment campaigns and other measures.

The most recent figures provided by the HSE indicate that the staff vacancy rate on CDNT 1 is 37% with 20.63 WTE staff working, CDNT 2 has 17% vacancies with 16.49 WTE staff working and CDNT 3 has 27% vacancies with 21.28 WTE staff working.

The HSE has stated that work is ongoing at this time to strengthen the Mayo CDNT teams and enhance their staffing numbers. I wish to reassure you that all avenues to recruit and retain staff on the CDNTs are being explored as a top priority. This includes agency filling of posts, international recruitment, derogation of staff to CDNTs, and national HR recruitment drives.

Successful recruitment and retention of staff is the key, in Mayo as well as other CHOs across the country. The HSE has just concluded its first nationwide CDNT recruitment campaign. Approximately 500 applications have been received and HSE is in the process of progressing the selection process, with interviews commencing over the coming weeks and offers of appointment to be made soon after.

Running in parallel, the HSE will be increasing its focus on intervention delivery with application of universal and target supports for families currently waiting.

Both the Government and the HSE remain absolutely committed to the delivery of appropriate services for children with disabilities and their families in Mayo and across Ireland, and will work with families and staff to develop services that meet their needs.