Lack of services makes Laois a 'black spot' for children with special needs

The lack of occupational therapy services in Laois has once again been raised by a Laois TD in the Dáil.

Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, April 16, Brian Stanley TD outlined the current crisis regarding occupational therapy services and the ensuing delays with assessments for children with special needs in the Laois and Offaly area.

Addressing the Tánaiste Simon Harris and the Health Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill, Deputy Stanley said: "What we have in Laois and Offaly in relation to services for children with special needs and autism is a black spot. There are roughly 900 children at any one time on a waiting list for an assessment of needs."

The chronic shortage of assessment of needs officers and other therapeutic supports in Laois was also raised recently by local Portlaoise Councillor Tommy Mulligan. 

Cllr Mulligan said that it is taking two years for some children to be assessed and referred which directly goes against the HSE's own guidelines of assessments taking place within three months of referrals and then completed within 6 months.

Even once a child is diagnosed, there's a lack and even absence of services available in the county. Laois has no occupational therapists or behavioural therapists and there is a huge shortage of physiotherapists, psychologists, as well as speech and language therapists.

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There are four vacancies for occupational therapist posts in the region and Deputy Stanley questioned the Tánaiste and Health Minister whether there has been approval from the Department of Health and the HSE to recruit for these posts in Laois and Offaly.

Responding to the query, the Tánaiste said: "My understanding is that there is now approval for 11 therapy posts in the Midlands. Let me follow up with the HSE on that. I will come back to the Deputy directly on the OT piece.

"There is also the broader body of work that I hope we can get right, as an Oireachtas, in terms of the assessment of needs legislation that we are looking at together. I believe that pre-legislative scrutiny at the committee is due to conclude shortly."

He added: "We need to look at the legislative structures that we have in place to make sure everybody has a right to an assessment of need, absolutely, but that the structures work much better. That is a really important thing.

"With regard to the therapy posts, let me get the Deputy a note in relation to the Midlands."

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