HSE to retain speech and language therapy at School for the Deaf, Cabra

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has reassured parents and pupils that the speech and language therapy service at the Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra will be retained.

Following a meeting yesterday between Minister Anne Rabitte, HSE officials, and the principal and parents of pupils in the school, it was revealed that the HSE would continue to support the service.

Senator Marie Sherlock said the news was a “major breakthrough.”

“This is wonderful news for the school and a great boost for anxious parents.

“An important feature of the meeting today was that there is strong support for the aims of the HSE’s Progressing Disability services strategy,” she said.

“However the Minister made very clear that for special schools where there is a well functioning system of therapeutic support for children that these specialist supports need to be retained on site.

“The breakthrough came when the HSE confirmed that this was also their position specifically with regard to the School for the Deaf, Cabra.”

Senator Sherlock said that the HSE was originally planning on ceasing the service before parents and teachers stepped in.

“Since the HSE first made their announcement about withdrawing the SLT service over seven weeks ago, the parents, principal and staff have made an enormous effort to communicate the vital importance of the specialist SLT on site service within the school.

“We‘ve received enormous public support and collected 3345 signatures in an open letter to the HSE and Government.”

She said: “I want to particular tribute to Minister Anne Rabbitte who has shown great leadership in her role as Minister for Disabilities on this issue.

“She responded to my call on this issue in the Seanad in early March and she has been instrumental in ensuring the specialist therapy is to be retained on-site.”