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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Disability services reform

Summary

Deputy Ó Murchú linked rail concerns to wider disability service failures and argued autism supports and CDNT staffing are inadequate, urging a school inclusion model and one-stop shop. The Tánaiste agreed the model is not fit for purpose, said more funding will be provided, and pointed to programme commitments to restore in-school therapies beginning in special schools.

I add my voice to that of Deputy Smith in respect of the case he made. Commuters from Dundalk are constantly talking about the issues that exist in regard to Irish Rail. It is a case of insufficient capacity and it needs to be dealt with.

There is no shortage of issues relating to disability in the public domain this week.

That is obviously what the Children's Rights Alliance said in relation to the issues that children are facing being unacceptable and unconstitutional. We have heard about the protest planned regarding the lack of school places for children with additional needs. We have seen the HIQA report on Sunbeam House, obviously, not providing the service required. On disability services, in the section 39 organisations, there is the issue in of the non-follow through on payment and the fear of what the pay and number strategy will mean in loss of jobs in disability services.

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Verona Murphy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

Thank you, Deputy.

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I will talk about autism services.

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Verona Murphy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

The time is up.

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CDNT is insufficient. There are 530 positions vacant at the minute-----

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Verona Murphy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

The Deputy is in someone else's time.

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-----but the only solution here is the school inclusion model.

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Verona Murphy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

Thank you, Deputy Ó Murchú. I call the Tánaiste to respond.

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We need to see that and a one-stop shop.

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Simon Harris The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I agree with the Deputy on the school inclusion model. We have got to be honest when the model is not fit for purpose. I really believe this and I say this when I talk to parents. There are often issues that if there is more money allocated, it can make great progress. Of course, we will allocate more money to children's disability services but reforming the system will be as important. That is why the programme for Government commits to putting in-school therapy services back, starting with the special schools, including speech and language therapy, OT and physiotherapy. I met the Minister for disability on that this week and I am happy to provide the Deputy with a written update.

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