1018. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to address the shortage of speech and language therapists available to children with additional needs given disability support services in North Tipperary have been impacted for a number of years by vacant posts and a lack of resources; the current waiting times for children with Down syndrome to access appropriate speech and language therapy in County Tipperary; and the contingency plans in place when experienced therapists leave positions such as the one recently vacated in the area this month. [64467/26]

As this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.