South Kildare children on waiting lists up to four years for essential services - TD

Sinn Féin’s Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh has said that the waiting lists for children’s services in the HSE are forcing families to go private, and for parents who cannot afford to go private, children are left on waiting lists for years.

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said that a Parliamentary Question she submitted has illuminated the dire situation HSE children’s waiting lists are in, and that these primarily affect children with disabilities.

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh for Kildare South said: “Last week I asked a Parliamentary question to outline the current number of children waiting for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology services in South Kildare, and the average waiting times for each service.

“The HSE this week responded: Over 140 children waiting for speech and language therapy; over 180 waiting for occupational therapy; and, most alarming, over 2300 children waiting for psychology services.

“These numbers are a stark reality of the condition our health services are currently in.”

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Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said it is children with disabilities who are most affected by these waiting times.

While early intervention is critical, she added, there are Occupational Therapy waiting lists of up to three years, with many children left to suffer through no fault of their own.

According to Deputy Ní Raghallaigh, parents are often forced to avail of private services, and spend “hundreds of euro on services that should be a given.”

Parents who cannot afford to go private, she said, are left waiting and hoping that their child will soon be called for an appointment.

She added: “Our most vulnerable are being failed by the state. There are over 110 children waiting on a CDNT appointment. Why are our children being forced to deal with the consequences of government inaction and underfunding of services?

“I am calling on the Minister for Children; Disability and Equality, and the Minister for Health, to investigate this matter immediately.”