TDs demand action on disability services

Northside TDs from all stripes have called for more action to be taken on the shortage of disability services.

TDs from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour and the independent benches all discussed the issues in their respective constituencies from the North Inner City all the way up to Balbriggan.

Fine Gael TD Grace Boland said that a total of 1,045 children are waiting for an assessment in her constituency of Dublin Fingal West, which takes in Balbriggan and Swords.

Boland noted that Balbriggan is the youngest large town in Ireland, and Fingal West itself is “rapidly growing.”

“The demand for children’s disability network team services will continue to intensify as the population increases,” she stated.

“Balbriggan and Swords CDNTs need to be prioritised, the open vacancies fully filled and the waiting list reduced. Families and children have endured systemic failures for far too long. The time for change is now. I welcome any opportunity to support the ministers to deliver the disability services which are needed.

“Without access to a CDNT, families are being forced to search for private supports and therapies. This can compound the stress and anxiety felt by parents who are trying to support their disabled child, not to mention the financial impact it has on their family,” Boland said.

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay North Tom Brabazon commented, “in recent years, it has become very apparent that the state has failed many neurodivergent children.”

“Many have been left languishing for years, waiting not just for assessments but also for timely early interventions.”

Brabazon expanded on the point made by Boland about parents being forced to seek out private assessments but said the average cost of going private is €2,000.

He commented that pressure can be put on the HSE to expedite the process when a solicitor’s letter is sent, but this creates a precedent of inequity within the Irish healthcare system.

Brabazon put pressure on fellow Fianna Fáil colleague Norma Foley, who is now Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland to get on top of the issue.

“It is imperative that we deliver on the rights of these children without any delay and that all the measures needed be front-loaded at the earliest opportunity but certainly within the lifetime of this government.”

Foley, for her part, commented, “a change of government often brings with it a renewed sense of optimism, an opportunity to reassess our priorities and refocus our minds on the commitments and promises that have been made both here in this Chamber as well as on the doorsteps of homes across the country.”

“Nowhere is this more urgent than for those living with disabilities, including their families, carers and those working in the sector who, for too long, have often feel unseen and unheard by society,” said Foley, member of a party who has held the ministerial brief for disability for 19 of the 28 years it has been in existence.

While the row over speaking time has seen actual governing take a back seat in the Dáil in recent weeks, both government and opposition are united in wanting to solve the issue.

Independent TD Barry Heneghan, the Dublin Bay North TD at the centre of the row, said he received a written reply from the HSE that 10.4% of assessment needs were carried out within the timeframe set out by the HSE.

“It is with cautious optimism that I support the Programme for Government, but this is something by which we will be defined as a government. It is something that I hope gets addressed in five years,” he said.

Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly commented, “we have a situation whereby the people themselves are not disabled; society disables them.”

“They are disabled by the fact that they cannot live full lives. They cannot thrive or reach their potential because there are barriers in their way. There is one very small example, which I have raised several times, that really sums up the situation for me.”

O’Reilly discussed the realities facing a person with disabilities, noting that a person living with a disability who lives along the train line in north county Dublin has to inform Irish Rail 24 hours in advance if he or she is a wheelchair user and wants to use the train.

“It is 2025; if that is not infantilising behaviour, I do not know what is.”

“People must know 24 hours in advance. How are people supposed to hold down a job? How are people supposed to respond to the needs of everyday living if they need to know 24 hours in advance if they are going to need to use the train? It is beyond ridiculous.”

The Dublin Fingal West TD dismissed Foley’s comments about a “renewed sense of optimism.”

“That optimism really not shared by people with disabilities in my constituency because they are living with the consequences of the policies of the government parties and their attitude to persons with disabilities.”

“They tell me that they are close to losing hope. With the greatest of respect, the minister’s remarks are not going to do much to restore that hope for them.”

Labour TD Marie Sherlock shared a similar sentiment, commenting, “when it comes to children with additional needs in this country, the word that appears in almost every single conversation is ‘wait”.

The Dublin Central TD said that waiting lists to be assessed range from three to four years, and waiting lists for therapies and supports are another three years.

“God forbid there would be a straightforward system in place to match children with additional needs with the places that exist,” she remarked. 

“When the children do get a place, there is a further wait to have the health services and education system talk to each other so basic services like assistive technology can be put in place.”

Sherlock said in one instance, a 13-year-old boy had to wait approximately 15 months for assistive technology in his secondary school, even though the health service and the education services had known since the boy was three about the extent of his needs.

“For the thousands of families out there who are going through this daily torture of having to fight tooth and nail for their child, they do not want to hear sympathy from us; they want action.”