As is the case in other health board regions, while additional funding has been provided in recent years to enhance the level of health related support services, including psychological services, available to children with special needs, the South-Eastern Health Board has been experiencing difficulties in recruiting certain allied health professionals. My Department is working with the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Science to provide additional training places for those professions. Intensive recruitment drives both at home and abroad are also being undertaken.
Responsibility for the provision of health related support services to children with special needs in the Waterford region rests with the South-Eastern Health Board. Therefore my Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.