Joint Committee on Disability Matters to discuss the withdrawal of occupational therapies from schools and the Progressing Disability Service Model with HSE

The meeting at 12:30pm in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House will hear from representatives from the Health Service Executive (HSE):

• Dr Cathal Morgan, Head of Operations, Disability Services;
  Prof Malcolm MacLachlan, Clinical Lead for People with Disabilities;
  Breda Crehan-Roche, Chief Officer, Community Healthcare Organisation West; and
  Angela O’ Neill, National Disability Specialist, Community Operations.

In advance of the meeting Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael Moynihan said: “In response to its 2020 public consultation the Committee is concerned to hear the considerable frustration that parents expressed regarding their experience of disability service provision as a ‘post code lottery’, in that the level of services received depended on where you live.

“As Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People is a national programme to make service provision more equitable and consistent for all children and young people with disabilities across the country, the Committee look forward to hearing how this model will deliver equity of service provision while meeting the needs of children with both complex and non-complex care needs in a timely manner.”

Deputy Moynihan added: “Members and I welcomed the fact that the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, asked the HSE, in April 2021, to pause the removal of therapists from special schools which is part of the Progressing Disability Services Programme. But we now need further clarification on whither this pause will be permanent or otherwise, parents and service users need to know.”

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on the Oireachtas website.

The Joint Committee on Disability Matters has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad. More information can be found on the dedicated Committee Webpage. Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.