Health Services Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Questions (1562)

David Cullinane

Question:

1562. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department and HSE are taking to strengthen the pipeline and increase the number of community therapists, further to comments made by the CEO of the HSE at the Joint Oireachtas Committee session of the Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, and Disability Matters on 2 June 2022; the manner and various measures by which this will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29736/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I, along with my colleague Minister O’Gorman met with the CEO of the HSE recently to discuss the delivery of services for children with disabilities and current challenges. At the meeting, it was agreed that an overarching document/roadmap would be developed to effectively progress the next phase of PDS implementation. Crucially, this roadmap will, amongst a range of issues, examine options in relation to recruitment and retention in Children's Disability Network Teams.

This document is currently being prepared by the HSE in collaboration with Department of Health officials for agreement between all parties in the coming weeks.

As the issues raised by the Deputy in the question are service related, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.