Children waiting on disability services cannot endure another FF/FG government

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that children waiting on assessment of need to access services such as occupational or speech and language therapies should not be made to endure another Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government that has clearly abandoned them
 
Teachta Crowe said “Children in need of speech and language or occupational therapy deserve timely assessment and intervention to give them the best chance at success. Early and ongoing assessment and intervention is key. “In July of this year, there were over four thousand children waiting on their Stage 1 assessment of need in the CHO7 area that takes in Dublin South West. Four thousand children just waiting to be seen for the first time.
 
“Almost another six thousand were waiting on a Stage 2 assessment. All of this is caused by serious gaps in the service that can be provided by teams that often have over 50% of posts vacant because of HSE cutbacks. “In a time of huge budget surpluses, these government has instructed the HSE to actually cut staff by eliminating posts. It is incredible that this is how Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil think a health service should be run. 
 
“Sinn Féin would develop a comprehensive workforce plan to fully staff Children’s Disability Network Teams. We would streamline the recruitment process, double the number of undergraduate training places, and provide a job guarantee to health and social care graduates. “More of the same just isn’t going to cut it. These children should not be made to endure another Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government that has clearly abandoned them.”