Brendan Smith highlights unacceptable delays in children's assessments
Brendan Smith raised urgent concerns about long waiting lists for children with additional needs in Cavill and Monaghan, calling the current delays 'totally unacceptable'. He warned staff shortages and reduced capacity are leaving vulnerable children without timely assessments and follow-up therapies.
He described parents as very concerned, worried and absolutely frustrated that children needing supports face long waiting lists with no signs of early appointments. He emphasised the importance of early intervention and having therapies and supports provided in a timely manner.
He said Enable Ireland provides the Cavill children's disability network team services but is operating at half capacity due to staff shortages. He added that children with less complex additional needs depend on primary care in Cavill and are also facing unacceptable delays for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology.
He outlined interim funding provided to both the HSE and private providers, noting private providers cost about £6.8 million last year. He said a further £10 million has been allocated this year to deliver close to 3,000 more assessments and to boost capacity with new assessment teams.
He urged identifying private capacity within the Cavill area to supplement HSE resources and suggested working with agencies to provide additional resource locally. He referenced a local example where waiting lists were reported as cleared, arguing a localised approach may be possible.
He warned that families on limited incomes are paying for services they cannot afford and that delays can affect assessments needed for appropriate school placement and support for vulnerable children.
Immediate concerns
He described parents as very concerned, worried and absolutely frustrated that children needing supports face long waiting lists with no signs of early appointments. He emphasised the importance of early intervention and having therapies and supports provided in a timely manner.
Service capacity
He said Enable Ireland provides the Cavill children's disability network team services but is operating at half capacity due to staff shortages. He added that children with less complex additional needs depend on primary care in Cavill and are also facing unacceptable delays for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology.
Financial measures and private providers
He outlined interim funding provided to both the HSE and private providers, noting private providers cost about £6.8 million last year. He said a further £10 million has been allocated this year to deliver close to 3,000 more assessments and to boost capacity with new assessment teams.
Suggested local solutions
He urged identifying private capacity within the Cavill area to supplement HSE resources and suggested working with agencies to provide additional resource locally. He referenced a local example where waiting lists were reported as cleared, arguing a localised approach may be possible.
Impact on families
He warned that families on limited incomes are paying for services they cannot afford and that delays can affect assessments needed for appropriate school placement and support for vulnerable children.
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Transcript
Thank you. I raise again the totally unacceptable todays in children with additional needs in Cavill and Monaghan getting assessment of needs and follow-up therapies when required. Daily I listen to parents very concerned, worried and absolutely frustrated that their child or maybe children needing supports are in long waiting list with no signs at all of early appointments. We all know how important it is to have early intervention and have therapies and supports provided in a timely manner. I am talking in many instances of vulnerable children needing these vital supports. We have families on limited incomes paying for services and incurring expenditure that they cannot afford. Children may need assessments to ensure that they get an appropriate placement in school. Enable Ireland provides the Cavill children's disability network team services and with staff shortages is only operating at half capacity. Children with less complex additional needs depend on primary care in Cavill for services and again there are unacceptable delays. There are huge numbers of children in Cavill on long, long waiting lists, awaiting supports and the capacity to deliver these therapies including physiotherapy, occupation, therapy and psychology must be addressed as a matter of extreme urgency. Thank you. Again, as I said earlier, we are providing in the interim funding both to the HSE but also to private providers. Private providers last year cost about £6.8 million. We have allocated a further £10 million this year to deliver close to 3,000 more assessments and to boost capacity with new assessment teams and so forth. Perhaps if you could identify and maybe work with the agency in terms of identifying private capacity within the Cavill area, it is perhaps something we could work on in terms of providing some resource there in addition to the HSE resource. I know in Cannes, for example, there is zero waiting lists in Cavill. It is possible to do something maybe on a localised basis. Thank you.