Carol Nolan warns 525 children await assessments in Offaly
Carol Nolan raised concerns about children with special needs in Offaly, saying 525 are waiting for assessment of needs and citing only two disability network teams (10 and 11) covering the county. She highlighted a lack of preschool places for children with autism in Edenderry and a severe shortage of therapists, and called on the minister to ensure urgent intervention.
Carol Nolan said there are 525 children in Offaly waiting for assessment of needs and that two disability network teams, 10 and 11, cover the county. She described the situation as a matter of concern and urged faster progress on assessments.
She reported meeting a parent who said there are no preschool places in Edenderry for children with autism and said she was shocked to learn the gap existed at the preschool level. Nolan noted she was already aware of issues at primary and secondary levels but had not expected the lack of preschool provision.
Nolan said the shortage of therapists in Offaly is "nothing short of a national scandal" and called the situation disgraceful and appalling. She cited a specific case of a child who had an amputation who cannot access an occupational therapist in the county.
Carol Nolan wished the minister well in the new role and said she looked forward to collaborating on many issues, while calling on the minister to ensure Offaly receives urgent intervention on assessments of need and provision of therapists.
Waiting lists in Offaly
Carol Nolan said there are 525 children in Offaly waiting for assessment of needs and that two disability network teams, 10 and 11, cover the county. She described the situation as a matter of concern and urged faster progress on assessments.
Preschool autism provision in Edenderry
She reported meeting a parent who said there are no preschool places in Edenderry for children with autism and said she was shocked to learn the gap existed at the preschool level. Nolan noted she was already aware of issues at primary and secondary levels but had not expected the lack of preschool provision.
Therapist shortages and a local case
Nolan said the shortage of therapists in Offaly is "nothing short of a national scandal" and called the situation disgraceful and appalling. She cited a specific case of a child who had an amputation who cannot access an occupational therapist in the county.
Call for ministerial intervention
Carol Nolan wished the minister well in the new role and said she looked forward to collaborating on many issues, while calling on the minister to ensure Offaly receives urgent intervention on assessments of need and provision of therapists.
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Transcript
Minister, I wish you well in your role and look forward to collaborating with you on many issues. In Offaly we have 525 children waiting in assessment of needs. There are two teams and obviously these teams, 10 and 11, cover Offaly, the disability network teams. I am very concerned over this. I am also concerned over the fact that there are no preschool places in Edenderry for children with autism. I actually met a parent this morning who told me that. I was shocked. I knew it was an issue at the primary level and at secondary level but not at preschool level. So I hope that can be addressed. The issue of therapists and indeed the shortage of therapists in Offaly is nothing short of a national scandal at this stage. I have a child who had an amputation some years ago who cannot get an occupational therapist. I mean this day and age that is absolutely disgraceful and appalling. So I am calling on you Minister to please ensure that Offaly gets urgent intervention in terms of therapists and in terms of assessments of needs.