Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2023
136. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the in-school and early years therapy support demonstration project; if there are plans for the project to be rolled out across the entire country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14087/23]
View answerIn February 2019, the Government approved the trialling of the School Inclusion Model (SIM) for the 2019/20 school year. There are a number of strands to the SIM project, including additional NEPS services and in-school support from therapists. Initially designed as a one year pilot involving up to 75 participating schools in the CHO 7 region, it was interrupted by Covid-19 with the closure of schools and the diversion of HSE therapists from the project to Covid related work. It was then extended to the 2020/21 school year which was also interrupted by Covid. Progress has been made on aspects of the Model but much remains to be done in terms of in-school implementation and evaluation. The Pilot recommenced in November 2021 in CHO7.
There are a number of challenges and barriers to continuing the roll-out of SIM in CH07 and expanding SIM to other areas at this time. The single biggest challenge is the availability of therapists and psychologists. While the Department’s initial intention was to expand SIM to other areas, pressures relating to workforce supply (therapists and psychologists) have resulted in SIM being limited to one CHO area. This will remain in 2023.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) are engaging with CORU (regulatory body over therapists) to determine how the current registration process can be expedited. The HSE are engaging with the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth ( DCEDIY) and Dept. of Higher Education to explore how the Higher Education Institutes can increase third level capacity, with a focus on an initiative to commence in September 2023.
