Mattie McGrath criticises collapse of Tipperary disability teams
Mattie McGrath outlined the collapse of two CD&T teams in South Tipperary, saying staff vacancies have left the teams non-existent and unable to meet a 600-person waiting list. He called the situation embarrassing and a refusal of human rights for children, and demanded that vacant posts be filled and proper teams restored.
Staffing breakdown
The speaker detailed staffing shortfalls in CD&T teams 4 and 5 in Tipperary - both managers are covering posts temporarily, both team psychologists have left, only one agency psychologist is available part-time, the social worker post is empty, there are two speech and language therapists and one C&R OT (one not available to the teams).
Scale of unmet need
McGrath emphasised the scale of the problem - the reduced team is expected to deal with a 600-person waiting list - and described the situation as embarrassing and tantamount to a refusal of human rights for children who need these services.
Calls for immediate action
He urged that someone take hold of the situation to ensure that the vacant posts are filled and that proper teams are in place to provide services for young people in dire need.
Official response and follow-up
A respondent acknowledged a real recruitment and retention challenge across the country and promised to ask Mr Rabbit to come back with a specific response to the query. The exchange ended with thanks to Deputy Michael McNamara.
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The response from the Disability Head of Services in my area in South Tipperary is a very stark reading. We have two CD&T teams in Tipperary, four and five. The unfortunate reality is that these teams are not only falling apart but are non-existent. I've raised this before with you. Both CD&T managers posted vacants with a temporary appointment to try and cover both. Both team psychologists have left the teams and the only psychologist available is through an agency on a part-time basis. The social worker post is empty, and there are two speech and language therapists and one C&R OT, one not available to the teams. And that is the extent of the team to deal with 600 people on a waiting list. Like, in what world would this be allowed to go on? I mean, this is just embarrassing. And it's downright the refusal of human rights to these children that need these services. And we need, the HC are unfit to do this. So we need somebody to take a hold of it and ensure that these posts are filled and that the proper teams are there, a proper service for young people in dire needs. Thank you very much. Who's the teacher? Thanks, Deputy, and I appreciate that we have a real recruitment and retention challenge across the country when it comes to these teams, better in some places than others. But I'll ask Mr Rabbit to come back to you with a specific response to your query. Thank you, Deputy Michael McNamara.
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