Therapy waiting lists for children increase by 30%

Parents seeking therapy and assessment for their children are facing prolonged waits in various areas including psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, audiology, and more, according to the findings by Cork East Labour TD Seán Sherlock.

The numbers provided by the HSE reveals the count of children aged 0-17 awaiting access to care. These include children waiting for psychology services in Cork, which increased from 2,404 in May 2022 to 3,408 in 2023. The number of children in Cork waiting for audiology services increased from 1,491 in May 2022 to 2,444 in 2023.

The growing demand for these services is leaving parents anxious and frustrated as they seek support for their children. Deputy Sherlock called on the Government to step in at “the highest level”.

“These waiting list figures show, once more, a sector in total crisis, especially in Cork,” said Deputy Sherlock.

“From the lack of therapy being offered to families awaiting a first time intervention and the retention and recruitment chaos that frontline workers are dealing with on a daily basis it is now time for the Government to step in at the highest level.”

“It is only when you examine each component therapy waiting list that you appreciate how fast a problem this is for families right across the State,” he continued.

“The Taoiseach must take responsibility and place all available resources to tackling this crisis impacting our most vulnerable families.”

Deputy Sherlock said that families have now become statistics as the numbers awaiting intervention continue to rise.

“The fact that trade unions have now walked out of pay talks should send shockwaves through Government and spur the ministers responsible into action,” he said.

Deputy Sherlock stated that Minister Anne Rabbitte agreed to take action if six planned regional assessment teams are not set up by 1 August to tackle the assessment of needs waiting lists.

“No child should have to wait for an assessment of need but unfortunately, as it stands, thousands of children are,” he added. “The Labour Party motion, which was accepted by the Government in May, seeks to ensure parents can avail of financial support to get assessments and therapies done privately given the crisis in public services. The State is failing families and children daily. There is such a struggle and fight for parents every single turn they take,” he said.