Sinn Féin is promising to temporarily fund access to private child psychology services, while families are waiting to access the public system. The party which has accused successive governments of chronic underfunding is pledging an additional €829 million to the disability sector.
It says it would streamline the recruitment process for Children’s Disability Network Teams, and double the number of undergrad training places. Disability Spokesperson, Pauline Tully, says no child should be left waiting for an assessment of need or intervention; "There's a right to an assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005. We're committing to actually reviewing that act and updating it because it's almost 20 years old. It's pre UNCRPD so it's based on the medical model of disability rather than the social model. We'd like to see supports and services being guaranteed to children."
