Committees to hear from HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid and Minister of State Anne Rabbitte regarding disability services for children

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House between 09:45-12:30.

The following representatives are due to appear:

 • Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and at the Department of Health

• Officials from the Department of Health, Siobhan McArdle, Assistant Secretary, Social Care Division, Deirdre Comiskey, Principal Officer, Disability Services Unit, Audrey Hagerty Principal Officer, Social Care Integration Unit

• Officials from the Department of Health, Jason Doran Assistant Principal, Disability Services Unit, Thomas Morrin, Assistant Principal, Disability Services Unit

• Representatives from Health Service Executive (HSE), Paul Reid, Chief Executive Officer, Yvonne O’Neill, National Director, Community Operations, Bernard O’Regan, Head of Operations – Disability Services

• Representatives from Health Service Executive (HSE), Breda Crehan-Roche, Chief Officer Community Healthcare West, Professor Malcolm MacLachlan, Clinical Lead for National Clinical Programme for People with Disability, Angela O’ Neill, National Disability Specialist, Community Operations

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters Deputy Michael Moynihan said: “We look forward to meeting the Minister and the head of the HSE to consider the limitations and challenges in accessing disability services as both Committees have highlighted over the past few months.”

“Difficulties in accessing disability services creates unnecessary stress and anguish for families and children and recent reports of families being unable to access vital services shows that the service is falling short in some areas.”

Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Deputy Kathleen Funchion said: "I too welcome the joint meeting. I think it’s vital we use every resource at our disposal to ensure that children and their families aren’t facing unacceptable delays and difficulties in accessing disability services. This is a crisis for these families and we need to see a concrete plan of action with specific time frames for families that are losing hope given the current situation."

Watch the meeting live on Oireachtas TV or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.