Longford Westmeath TD hits out at 'ongoing crisis' in Children’s Disability Network Teams

Longford-Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke, has condemned the ongoing crisis in Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), following new Parliamentary Question responses revealing thousands of children on waiting lists and hundreds of unfilled frontline posts across the State.

The Sinn Féin said the figures provided in response to a Parliamentary Question show that 'over 8,600 children are currently waiting for an initial CDNT contact nationally, including 5,605 children waiting over 12 months and 1,283 waiting 7-12 months'.

“In the Midlands region alone, CDNT teams such as Mullingar, Athlone, Longford and others continue to report significant waiting lists alongside ongoing staffing shortages.

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“At the same time, the data shows dozens of whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts remain unfilled across CDNT disciplines, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work.

Deputy Clarke said it is a system under intolerable pressure.

"These figures confirm a system in crisis.

“We now have thousands of children waiting over a year just to be seen, while at the same time essential therapy posts are sitting unfilled. This is simply not good enough.

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“Families in the Midlands are being left to pick up the pieces. Parents in places like Mullingar, Athlone and Tullamore are telling us the same story: long waits and little support.

“The impact of recruitment initiatives and trainee pipelines is not being felt on the ground.

“We are told about strategies and plans, but parents are not seeing therapists. Children are not getting assessments. Vacant posts are not just numbers, they are missed early interventions that can change a child’s life.

“No child should be waiting over a year for basic assessment or intervention. Early years matter most, yet this Government continues to preside over delays that are actively harming children’s development.

“Families in the Midlands and right across the State deserve a system that works. Children deserve timely access to therapy and assessment. This crisis has gone on too long, and it needs urgent political action now.”