THE Government and HSE has been asked to stop cutting corners and provide children with disabilities with the services they need.
The call came from Limerick Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan in advance of a Dáil motion today requesting the Government to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities are fully protected.
“The High Court ruled this month that the HSE’s assessment of need process is operating outside of the law in denying children with disabilities their right to a proper assessment of need within six months, as set down in the Disability Act,” Deputy Quinlivan said.
“This procedure was introduced in 2020 as a mechanism for the government to avoid its legal obligations. They have now been found out and it is dumbfounding.
“The judgement was a damning indictment of government policy and their abject failure to appropriately resource Children’s Disability Services.
“Parents of children with disabilities shouldn’t feel that they have to contact their local TD to ensure that their child receives the adequate resources. We will continue to stand up for these children and their parents, and we will ensure that their voices are heard.
“Earlier this month, the government accepted a Sinn Féin motion on assessment of need, which pointed out consistent breaches of the law,” he explained.
“They also accepted the High Court ruling. But what we need to see now is action. The Minister must commit to providing the funding and resources necessary to ensure children get the services they need in a timely manner.”
“Sinn Féin will introduce a Dáil motion today calling on Government to commit that any review of the Disability Act will not be used to undermine the current rights of people with disabilities.
“We are also calling for an immediate upgrade of the relevant IT systems and databases to accurately maintain and report on the data required under the Disability Act 2005.
“They must also develop and implement a strategy to recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver services, including reviewing the current critical skills list and providing a job guarantee to health and social care graduates.
“The government must live up to its legal obligations and provide children with disabilities with the services they need,” Deputy Quinlivan concluded.
