Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
191. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the main initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020 to improve access to therapeutic and multidisciplinary services for young children with Down syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56193/21]
View answerOn assuming Ministerial responsibility for Disabilities in the summer of 2020, one of the issues I immediately sought to remedy was the number of overdue Assessments of Need for children across the country. At the end of June 2020, this backlog, for a number of reasons, had risen to approximately 6,500.By working with Minister Donnelly, I secured Sláintecare funding of €7.8 million to address this issue. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that by the end of September, the HSE has reduced the waiting list backlog from that original figure of 6,500 to just over 500 cases. This is a reduction of just over 90%.
In addition, is the unprecedented level of additional resources which has gone into strengthening children's therapy services. In 2021, 185 additional development posts have been allocated to children’s disability services across the country, broken down as follows:
- 100 posts in 2021
- 85 posts for services in special schools approved mid 2021This follows on from an additional 100 posts added to children's teams in 2019.
In conclusion, I’m also pleased to inform the Deputy that further investment in children's therapy services is planned in 2022, in this regard, which I will announce as part of the HSE’s National Service Plan, in due course.
