Speech and language services in region

Speech and language therapy services in the county are inundated, with over 1400 children in counties Cavan and Monaghan are waiting more than a year for treatment, that’s according to a new report published this week by the Inclusion Ireland organisation.
Based on the most recent figures available, for 2012, there were just six Speech and language therapy posts in counties Cavan and Monaghan, catering for 1439 children with complex needs in the HSE area. It means a ratio of just one therapist for every 240 children in need of assistance.
Inclusion Ireland has said of the report’s findings concerned for some time of the degree to which parents and family members have to fundraise and use their family income to secure therapy services that should be available through the public system.
There are similar situations in neighbouring counties, with 13.5 therapists for 2136 children in Meath, seven for 954 in Sligo/Leitrim and 12.8 for 1346 children in the Longford/Westmeath area.
Inclusion Ireland, which champions people with an intellectual disability and their families whose standing and expertise in intellectual disability is acknowledged, says the public system fails to meet the therapy needs of children and families, there will be a growth in private and subsidised provision by charitable organisations.
“This is evident across Ireland. With over 4,500 children waiting or likely to be assessed as needing Speech and Language Therapy, it is indisputable that the public system cannot meet the needs of thousands of children and their families. For many of those receiving a service the level of therapy is inadequate to achieve the desired clinical outcomes.”
The failure of the public system to provide adequate speech and language to children with additional support needs is an enduring crisis for the families affected, Inclusion Ireland say, and have led calls to at least double the number of available therapists in the country.