LIMERICK Labour TD Conor Sheehan has welcomed the confirmation that a permanent paediatric speech and language therapist has been appointed to King’s Island Community Centre.
Minister of State at the Department of Health, Mary Butler, told Deputy Sheehan that it will be a number of weeks before therapist is in place for the position, which has been vacant for more than three years.
“In the interim, an agency therapist will provide the necessary level of care to ensure that children in this community receive the level of care they need and deserve,” Minister Butler said.
Deputy Sheehan said he was delighted to receive confirmation that approval has finally been given to fill the position, as “speech and language therapy (SLT) is a service that is vital to the people of King’s Island and the post has remained vacant for far too long”.
“SLT is a critical component of early childhood development and for supporting communication skills that are essential for learning social interaction and emotional regulation.
“The lack of consistent SLT services means that teachers are left without the necessary professional supports to implement effective classroom strategies for these students.”
Deputy Sheehan went on to say that though he is relieved this issue will finally be resolved, he is acutely aware of issues with vacant posts across the HSE in the Mid West and nationally.
“It is clear that the HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy is not working and is detrimental to our health service and the citizens it is supposed to serve,” he said.
He called on the Health Minister to “engage with the HSE and to end this damaging strategy as soon as possible” as “there are 1,257 children in CHO 3 (Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary), specifically in Limerick, who are waiting two years for speech and language therapy”.
