Skip to main content
Normal View

Departmental Policy Functions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021

Thursday, 25 March 2021

Questions (213)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

213. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had on the policy of progressing disability services; and if he has contacted other Ministers regarding the policy. [16173/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State with Responsibility for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte TD, has engaged with a number of members of the Oireachtas, including Ministers, on the issue of PDS. A number of these engagements have been in-person while others have been by way of written representation. Minister Rabbitte engages on an ongoing basis with other members of government on various elements of disability policy.

Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme (PDS) is a significant change programme for the provision of services and supports provided by the HSE For children from birth to 18 years of age with special needs, in line with Slaintecare and the Programme for Government, in order to:

- Provide a clear pathway and fairer access to services for all children with a disability.

- Make the best use of available resources for the benefit of all children and their families

- Ensure effective teams are working in partnership with families and with education staff to support children with a disability to reach their full potential.

PDS aligns with two clear objectives of The Sláintecare Report to:

- Provide the majority of care at or as close to home as possible

- Create an integrated system of care with healthcare professionals working closely together.

Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNT) are being established to provide services and supports for all children with complex needs within a defined geographic area.

CDNTs are teams of health and social care professionals, including occupational therapy, psychology, nursing, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social work and others. The team will work closely together in a family centred model, focussing on the child’s and family’s own priorities. Once all teams are in place, every child with complex needs will have access to a team, regardless of the nature of their disability, where they live, or the school they attend.

Children and their families will have access to the full range of services and supports of the CDNT according to their individual needs. This includes universal, targeted and specialist supports, such as individual therapeutic intervention and access to specialist consultation and assessment when needed. Supports will be provided as is feasible in the child’s natural environments - their home, school and community.

Under PDS, transition plans will be developed with in consultation with families and special schools to ensure a smooth and safe transition over a defined period of time.

Top
Share