Written Answers Nos. 675-694
675. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE physiotherapists, by grade posts filled at Waterford North CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28015/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
676. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE occupational therapists, by grade posts filled at Waterford South CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28016/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
677. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of sanctioned posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams nationally as of the most recent date available; the number of those posts currently filled; the number currently vacant; and the percentage vacancy rate overall. [28137/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
678. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacant posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams, by discipline, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and therapy assistants; and the percentage vacancy rate for each discipline. [28138/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average duration of vacancies within Children’s Disability Network Teams, by discipline; the number of posts vacant for longer than 6 months and 12 months respectively; and the longest recorded vacancy duration for each discipline. [28139/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 799 of 24 March 2026, whether staffing data for Children’s Disability Network Teams continues to be collected at Community Healthcare Organisation level; if so, the reason such data was not provided in response to the question; and if not, the date on which CHO-level reporting ceased and the rationale for this change. [28140/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to Parliamentary Question No. 799 of 24 March 2026, as it related to a service matter, it was referred to the HSE for direct answer.
With regard to the collection of staffing data for Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) at Community Health Organisation level, the HSE introduced the Health Region management structure on 1 October 2024 as part of the Sláintecare programme of reform. The six new Health Regions replaced previous Community Health Organisation (CHO) and Hospital Group structures.
CDNT data up to the end of 2024 was provided by the HSE to the Department at Community Health Office level. Since January 2025, this data has been provided at Health Region level.
681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of funded posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams which remain unfilled; the length of time such posts have remained unfilled; and the reasons these posts have not been filled. [28141/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
682. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Pay and Numbers Strategy places limits on recruitment into Children’s Disability Network Teams; if so, the extent to which this constrains recruitment; and whether exemptions or adjustments are being considered in light of current service demand. [28142/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
683. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently awaiting assessment and intervention by Children’s Disability Network Teams; the average waiting time; and whether current staffing levels are considered sufficient to meet demand. [28143/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
684. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address staffing shortages within Children’s Disability Network Teams; the timelines associated with these measures; and the expected increase in staffing levels during 2026. [28144/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
685. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of children waiting for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology services in Limerick; the average waiting time for each service, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28261/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
686. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the methodology used by her Department and the HSE to estimate clinician workload within Children's Disability Network Teams in the absence of recorded caseload data per clinician or per discipline. [28274/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
687. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any national or international benchmark for safe clinician caseloads is used in workforce planning for Children's Disability Network Teams; and if so, to provide details of such benchmarks and how they are applied. [28275/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
688. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how workforce planning decisions for Children's Disability Network Teams are made where no clinician-level caseload data is collected; and the evidential basis used to determine appropriate staffing levels. [28276/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
689. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a clinical risk assessment has been conducted regarding the absence of caseload measurement within Children's Disability Network Teams; and if so, to provide the findings and any mitigation measures in place. [28277/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
690. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the metrics used to assess service capacity and performance within Children's Disability Network Teams in the absence of clinician caseload data. [28278/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
691. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the reduction in the Children's Disability Network Team waiting list from 16,522 to 8,648 includes cases reclassified, deferred, or removed without receiving full intervention; and to provide a breakdown of the categories underpinning this reduction. [28279/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
692. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average waiting time from referral to first assessment and from assessment to intervention within Children's Disability Network Teams, nationally and by Community Healthcare Organisation area. [28280/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
693. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department intends to introduce a standardised national system for recording clinician caseloads within Children's Disability Network Teams; and the timeline for implementation. [28281/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
694. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the extent to which administrative staff are included within the reported whole-time equivalent figure for Children's Disability Network Teams; and the number of clinical versus non-clinical staff within that total. [28282/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
