Minister pledges to return therapists to schools; Cork Parents Unite 'optimistic but cautious'

DISABILITIES Minister Anne Rabbitte has called for the Progressing Disabilities Services (PDS) model to be “retired” by the next government.

This will be Fianna Fáil’s position going into the next general election, and does not necessarily reflect the plans of the HSE or Department of Health.

Ms Rabbitte’s comments came after Tánaiste Micheál Martin called for a new approach to therapies, citing lengthy waiting times for access.

Speaking at the Fianna Fáil ard fheis earlier this month, Mr Martin said: “A core part of this is to provide new, multi-disciplinary therapy teams based in schools, starting with special schools.”

PDS, for children and young people, reconfigured children’s disability services five years ago, doing the exact opposite of the Tánaiste’s statement above.

The new model saw clinicians, such as occupational therapists, speech-and-language therapists, and physios removed from schools and placed on children’s disability network teams (CDNTs).

The aim of CDNTs was to provide multidisciplinary therapy services to children in need in their communities and local areas.

However, the decision to remove therapists from schools was met with a backlash from parents and principals alike, and, in September 2021, Ms Rabbitte pledged to return therapists to special schools across Ireland.

Also speaking at the Fianna Fáil ard fheis in April 2024, the minister admitted this has proved to be more difficult than anticipated.

She also highlighted difficulties in getting CDNTs and the PDS model working effectively.

“The HSE has struggled to get its children’s disability network teams on a stable footing. It would be disingenuous to say otherwise,” Ms Rabbitte stated.

“The Progressing Disability Services programme was brought in under the last government without the scaffolding required to make it work.

“Having met numerous families, providers, clinicians, and the HSE at various levels, I’ve been working non-stop to retrospectively fix it.

“Looking to the future, Fianna Fáil can only but commit to permanently changing the direction of travel for children’s services.

“The status quo is not working as intended.

“One of the key mistakes made was the removal of therapists from special schools. This should not have happened,” she added.

“Since 2021, I’ve secured funding to reverse this, but it is taking longer than I would like to get the clinicians back in the schools where they need to be.

“I’m currently finalising a pilot to be launched this year, which will see special schools given a grant to hire therapists themselves, giving them a secure and stable service for their pupils.

“In the next government, I would like to see this initiative stood up nationally and the broader PDS programme retired, as we work towards a school-centred therapy programme.

“The PDS programme is correct to say that parents play a key role, but we cannot ignore the simple fact that children spend most of their days in schools.

“That’s largely where children should be supported. And that’s regardless of whether mainstream or special school status.”

An advisor for the minister told The Echo that Ms Rabbitte’s comments are in the context of what the party position will be in a general-election campaign.

“As the Tánaiste said in his televised ard fheis speech, the aim would be to move towards a school-based model of therapy provision,” the advisor stated.

“Having worked at the forefront of disabilities, Minister Rabbitte recognises the fact that children spend most of their time in schools, so we should be going where the children are.

“It would also bolster the ability to support teachers in the classroom.

“Some work had been done in this space through the Department of Education’s School Inclusion Model pilot.

“To establish this approach, the PDS model would need to be retired over a period to ensure a smooth transition,” the advisor added.

“In the more immediate term, the minister is currently finalising the establishment of a pilot where special schools would receive funding through the HSE to hire therapists to support the children attending the school. The minister hopes to have this over the line next month.”

Cork Parents Unite (CPU), a group of parents advocating for their children with additional needs who attend special schools in Cork, welcomed the minister’s comments.

“Minister Rabbitte has listened to the concerns of CPU and has committed to changing the failing model of PDS, which removed therapists from special schools, and to provide grants to schools to directly employ therapists,” a spokesperson for the group said.

“This is hugely welcome.

“CPU would like our schools —Carrigaline Community Special School and Rochestown Community Special School — to be part of the pilot programme Minister Rabbitte referred to.

“Being part of this pilot programme, we hope will be the first steps taken to address the failures of the PDS model.

“For CPU, the removal of therapists from special schools has been the biggest failure of this model and one which has had a devastating impact on our children,” the spokesperson added.

“We are optimistic, but very cautious, due to the length of time it has taken to get to this stage.

“When full-time therapists walk through the doors of our schools, to provide one to one therapy for our children, then it will be a day of significance.”

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould described Ms Rabbitte’s comments as “shocking”, and said her admissions highlight the need for a general election now.

“She makes clear that they introduced a plan with no substance and no real funding behind it,” Mr Gould claimed.

“If, after four years with responsibility, the minister feels that Progressing Disability Services must be retired, then surely children should not be forced to wait a further 11 months for a general election before this happens. Children are now being failed by this government right now and the minister admits that,” he added.

He highlighted how Ms Rabbitte said the previous government did not put the scaffolding in place to support the PDS plan.

“She admits this catastrophic handling has failed children. Yet four days before she gave this speech, she voted for the man who was in charge of that failed introduction to become Taoiseach.

“Simon Harris was the senior minister in charge, who failed to put the scaffolding in place and Minister Rabbitte voted for him to become the head of government.

“I cannot wrap my head around that.

“The minister tries to lay a lot of blame on the HSE and they are, without a doubt, deserving of some.

“If the minister has a new plan, why say it has to be delayed for 11 months?

“If that new plan is more than an election slogan, if it’s more than just an attempt to hide from four years of failings, then the minister should stop the delays and support calls for a general election now.”