1651. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is aware that the HSE is proposing to establish multidisciplinary teams to improve services for people with disabilities; if so, whether these plans will be delayed, scaled back or otherwise impacted as a result of the current financial position and spending controls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43297/26]

The Specialist Disability Budget supports a range of services funded through the HSE and delivered by Section 38 and Section 39 organisations, as well as the HSE. Services provided including Residential, Respite, Day Services, Personal Assistance, Home Support, therapies, Community Neuro-rehabilitation teams and Children’s Disability Services.

Multidisciplinary teams work throughout the Health Services and in Disability Services, including for example, in the Children's Disability Network Teams and Community Neuro Rehabilitation Teams. A proposed multidisciplinary team approach for adult disability services is currently under active consideration.

HSE Disabilities services are committed to increasing the therapy services available to people with disabilities through growing their Health & Social Care Professionals (HSCP) workforce.

While Health and social care in Ireland is operating in a very competitive global market for healthcare talent there are numerous ongoing initiatives to attract HSCP and wider workforce into Disabilities. There are significant shortages of qualified healthcare professionals across the globe. Many of the disciplines working in Disability Services have been included on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Critical Skills Occupations List.