More supports needed, says TD after HSE apologises for 5-year wait letter

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has apologised to Lexi Forde, 7, and her family from Tallaght after being told she would have to wait until 2026 for an appointment.

Forde has autism and currently suffers from severe anxiety with her parents saying that she struggles to attend school full-time due to the anxiety and lack of available resources.

Local TD Paul Murphy says more needs to be done to help the child and her family.

“This is a shocking example of the massive waiting lists parents of children with special needs are facing.

“The HSE have apologised for the letter, which I welcome, but they still haven’t given a new, more urgent, appointment date.”

Deputy Murphy says that the family’s struggles are indicative of the “major lack of supports for children with special needs in our education system.”

“In a survey of parents of children with special needs carried out last year, one in three said they did not receive support to help their child transition back into school after lockdown.

“All children will need extra supports following the traumatic impacts of Covid and lockdown, but in particular, we need to be providing supports to those with special education needs.

“Lexi’s school, St Dominic’s, have correctly highlighted the massive shortfall in Special Education Teacher Hours, which is the case across the board too.

“We can do better than this, but we need significant investment in special education and other supports for children with autism.”