Two year waiting list for occupational therapy in Louth

The lack of occupational therapists (OT) in the public or private sector available to help autistic children in Louth was raised in Leinster House recently by Sinn Fein’s Ruairí Ó Murchú who also raised the need for additional autism places at secondary school.

He outlined how a grandmother, Claire had written to him about her five year old grandson, Mason, who has autism and who attends Kilsaran NS.

Deputy Ó Murchú said:

“After begging schools, it was the only one available even though they live in Dundalk. Thankfully, the unit is brilliant.

“Mason is over the average height for his age and strong. He is a flight risk and constantly trying to run away. He is volatile and, in a temper, will hurt his mother and brother on occasion.

“She is now a prisoner in her own home, as is her other son, a ten-year-old. She lives in a two-bedroom terraced house with a small garden. It is heartbreaking.

“The child psychologist recommended that he attend occupational therapy service, but there is a two-year waiting list in Louth. Even private services have been closed to waiting lists due to demand.

“We do not have the services required. The HSE has large gaps, but we need short-, medium- and long-term plans that deliver for children like Mason and his mother, Aisling.”

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In response, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly acknowledged that OT waiting lists were too long.

“My focus and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is on recruitment. Models of care are being examined. The most serious issue we have is recruitment.

“The Minister of State and I are engaging with the Department and the HSE on finding new ways to fill those posts urgently to meet the pressing needs the Deputy outlined.”

In a separate interaction, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Deputy Ó Murchú highlighted the need for further ASD classes for secondary schools in North Louth.

He said:

“Coláiste Chú Chulainn has two ASD classes. St. Vincent's has one ASD class. Sanction has been granted to that school for an additional three classes and that expansion is due to happen before September 2024.

“An extension to Bush Post Primary School is under construction and will house an ASD classroom. The projected completion date for that project is September 2024. I could also talk about De La Salle College, St. Louis Secondary School, Coláiste Rís, the Marist school and Ó Fiaich College.

“There will even be difficulties in respect of the Marist school because it is a public private partnership build. We must ensure there is a full Government response to allow for delivery.

“We must ensure we can deliver for those parents in Dundalk and throughout Louth who are pulling their hair out because they are not sure where their kids are going to be able to go to school.”

In response, the Taoiseach agreed that more investment was needed for ASD classes and said that the Department and relevant ministers were currently engaging on the issue.