I raise the urgent case of a 14-year-old child in Tipperary with severe additional needs and the absolute neglect he and his family are receiving at the hands of the HSE. Despite having severe needs, being an acute priority and requiring, at a minimum, weekly respite, the child has received just three hours of respite since last May and just one overnight stay. It is appalling. The children's disability network team, CDNT, and disability services are failing him. Respite services are practically non-existent and his need for shared residential care is being completely ignored, with the HSE saying that is the last resort. This family has reached a place of last resort. I salute the child's mum and dad. They are in crisis and they cannot be ignored any further. I have had an eight-page letter from the child's mother, which I have just handed to the Minister. I ask him, please, to act. It is an appalling situation.

Thank you, Deputy. The Minister to reply.

If there is any humanity at all, the situation should not be allowed to continue like this. It is appalling.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for passing on the case. I will ask the HSE for a detailed note on it. A significant additional number of healthcare professionals need to be hired in disability services. Sanction is in place for several hundred posts that are currently unfilled. The HSE has found it harder to fill the children's healthcare roles in disability services and mental health services than the adult roles. I am engaged directly with the HSE on this matter. It is looking at different service provision models. Ultimately, the solution to this is to hire into the roles that have already been sanctioned and make sure this child and all the other children waiting for care get it quickly.