Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
663. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when he will receive recommendations from the group set up by the Department of Education and Skills to look at SNE; if he will confirm that he will facilitate a debate thereafter on the future direction for children age zero to five with special needs requirements. [36656/13]
View answerThe Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with disability including those with autism. Significant resources have been invested in recent years in the health sector in these services and the HSE provides a range of community and residential services including therapeutic services and respite. The HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to geographic based teams for children and young people with disabilities under its Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People (0-18 years). This aims to increase the level of consistency and standardisation in the way both early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities are delivered. A detailed action plan is being implemented with the following objectives:
- One clear pathway to services for all children with disabilities according to need
- Resources used to the greatest benefit for all children and families
- Health and education working together to support children to achieve their potential.
The health and education sectors co-operate on a regular basis with a view to integrating their services for these children as much as possible and targeting them to areas of greatest need. At the same time, there is a need to strengthen this co-operation and I am personally committed to this issue. I have established the Children, Adolescents and Young People with Complex Disabilities Unit in my Department, led by a Principal Officer. This important development aims to foster greater collaboration between my Department, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on children’s disability issues including autism and to build on the cross-sectoral working arrangements that are already in place. A dedicated Cross-Sectoral Team, comprising representatives of my Department, the HSE, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs plays a key role in this regard.
A sub group of this Cross-Sectoral Team has been set up to examine the issues around integration of children with disabilities into mainstream Pre-School Settings, building on previous analysis in this area. Representatives of the Departments of Health, Children and Youth Affairs, Education and Skills, the Health Service Executive and of the City and County Childcare Committees are members of this group and it is chaired by the Department of Health. It is envisaged the work of this Sub-Group will be completed later in the year, at which point it will report to the Cross Sectoral Team.
I welcome discussion and debate around this or any other matter which will assist in meeting the future requirements for all children special needs.
