Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1092. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what engagement there has been between his Department and other Government Departments to deliver timely and suitable assessments and therapies for children with autism in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37160/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe numbers of applications for AON under the Disability Act, 2005 have risen steadily since its implementation in June 2007. 6,755 applications for AON were received in 2022. This was the highest number of applications received in any year since Part 2 of the Act was commenced in June 2007.
Additional funding has been secured to support the additional AONs required. Assessments have been procured from the private sector and further procurement is planned.
The delivery of timely assessments and therapy interventions is highly dependent on the availability of suitably qualified health and social care professionals. There are ongoing challenges recruiting staff across a range of disciplines and grades in all areas of the health services; in relation to Children’s Services in particular, the HSE and Lead Agencies are operating in a very competitive global market for healthcare talent.
To assist in this process and to broaden the pool of available talent for CDNTs, my Department has been engaged with, in conjunction with the HSE, the Department of Health, the Department of Education and the Department of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to explore all options to expand the availability of health and social care professionals.
The recent Government announcement of an increase of 100 places in the undergraduate intake in key therapies, as well as the roll-out of Post-Leaving Cert courses to train speech and language therapist assistants in five Education and Training Boards (with an estimated 120 students expected on these programmes) is testament to the ongoing commitment to children and their families.
Finally, I will be chairing a cross departmental group on workforce planning in the disability sector in the very near future and will be engaging directly with colleagues in the Departments of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Sciences in particular to ensure that all options are explored to attract personnel to the disability sector.
