Quarter of disability posts vacant

Delays in carrying out disability assessments on local children have been described as “ridiculous” and the system said to be “archaic”.

The issue of assessment of needs delays has come to the fore in recent weeks with discussions in Cavan County Council and the Seanad.

Senator Joe O’Reilly (FG) raised the issue with Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte in recent days, telling her local parents have found themselves in “bizarre” situations.

He said people could be left waiting from six months to two years for an initial assessment with Enable Ireland. Older children, in particular, are left waiting the longest with younger children prioritised.

“One of the parents said to me that their non-speaking child is waiting nearly three years for a psychology assessment and that their other son is waiting four years in primary care for autism spectrum disorder and occupational therapist assessments.”

He also said parents who have the option of getting a private diagnosis carried out for their child may then face issues with getting an assessment of needs.

Staffing levels and differences in staff pay between those working in the HSE and organisations like Enable Ireland is being blamed as part of the problem. “Under the Haddington Road agreement, Enable Ireland staff are paid less than HSE staff,” said Senator O’Reilly.

They also do not have the same maternity leave arrangements or pension conditions.

Agreeing, Minister Anne Rabbitte said a quarter of posts in Cavan and Monaghan are vacant. “There is a gap between section 39 workers and section 38 and HSE workers. It will have to be addressed because, if it is not, we will not be able to recruit to those teams,” she conceded.

“That can be seen in Cavan and Monaghan, where there is a 25% vacancy rate... Pay is part of the reason for that vacancy rate. It is not the conditions because the conditions include that it is a lovely part of the world to live in.”

She said international recruitment is an option to fill vacancies but highlighted issues with employing people from Northern Ireland as the registration body here, CORU, does not recognise parts of qualifications of speech and language therapists from there.

“This is an issue that I am addressing,” assured the Minister.