Fianna Fáil TD Deputy Brendan Smith has said the delays families are experiencing trying to access therapies for children with additional needs in Cavan and Monaghan is unacceptable. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said there are "long and inappropriate" delays in children obtaining therapies such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and physiotherapy.
Speaking in the Dáil, the local TD said "There is a problem with recruitment and retention and there is a massive vacancy rate for therapists in the children's disability network team in Cavan and similarly in Enable Ireland".
"Nowadays, unfortunately, too many families are having to source treatment from private sources, which is impacting on their household income," Deputy Smith said. This, he said also had the effect of driving more people to go into private practice.
