Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Disability and Carers Pauline Tully TD has voiced her dismay at the fact that there has been a further steep rise in the staff vacancy rate across Children’s Disability Network Teams over the past year.

Speaking after receiving the 2023 National Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) Census and Workforce Review, the Cavan-Monaghan TD expressed her disappointment at the government’s complete failure in delivering adequate services and supports for disabled children and their families.

Teachta Tully said:

“It is shocking that the Children’s Disability Network Teams census for 2023 has shown that there is a 36% vacancy rate, which is an increase from 34% in 2022 and 28% in 2021.

“This is now the second successive rise in the staff vacancy rate in CDNTs and shows that the government is not doing enough to ensure the recruitment and retention of vital therapy staff to deliver desperately needed assessment of need reports and follow-up therapeutic interventions.

“We keep hearing from the Minister and her Government colleagues that they are putting in place the necessary resources to improve the situation in CDNTs, but this census report indicates that the opposite is happening.

“There are now 817 staff vacancies in CDNTs compared to 707 in 2022 and 524 in 2021.

“The situation in CDNTs is getting worse and worse each year and affirms that the government are failing disabled people in general and disabled children in particular.

“The vacancy rate in Speech and Language Therapy (43%), Occupational Therapy (41%), and Psychology (43%) have all increased since the 2022 from 36%, 40% and 39%, respectively. This is of particular concern as these grades of staff are essential for the delivery of legislative obligations for Assessment of Need under the Disability Act 2005.

“The review also goes on to report that there is an ongoing increase in the vacancy rate among senior grades of staff from 29% in 2021, to a 35% in 2022 to 37% in 2023.

“This is placing an extremely heavy burden on the staff who are in post as they try to cope with the additional workload placed on them by the fact that over a third of their teams have not been filled.

“The high and increasing level of staff vacancies in CDNTs is undoubtedly the main factor that has led to extremely high waiting lists for assessments and follow-up services for children.

“What this and previous census reports confirm is the need for the Minister for Disabilities and the HSE to develop a strategic workforce plan to train, recruit and retain therapists for these posts. 

“The government must also outline a multi-annual funding plan for delivering the Action Plan Disability Services 2024-2026.

“It must deal with the disparity in pay and conditions between section 39 staff and those working in the HSE and Section 38 organisations.

“These are some of the measures, that Sinn Féin have been calling for in our Dáil motions and alternative budgets, which need to be delivered.

“It is simply not acceptable that for the second year running the vacancy rate in CDNTs has increased while parents and guardians are desperately seeking access to an assessment of need or therapeutic supports for their children.

“This government have completely failed people with disabilities and their families. Their promises are sounding increasingly hollow.

“It is time for a new government, led by Sinn Féin, that will deliver for disabled people and their families.”