Concerns raised over lack of urgency in funding therapists at Cork school

A Cork city councillor has raised concerns about a lack of urgency from the HSE to fund therapists on an interim basis at St Killian’s Special School on Cork’s northside.

A motion calling for the immediate funding of therapists was brought forward for discussion by Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan at yesterday’s meeting of the HSE regional health forum south at Cork County Hall.

The motion focused on securing the finance that was promised for the interim funding of therapists at the school.

It comes following a meeting last week between local politicians and parents during which they made an appeal for therapists as a matter of urgency.

There have been no occupational therapists, speech and language therapists or behavioural therapists in special schools since early 2020 following the introduction of the HSE’s Progressing Disability Services programme.

Disability Minister Anne Rabbitte last November met with a delegation including the principal and parents from St Killian’s during which she pledged to make €150,000 available to hire therapists privately and the school put arrangements in place for this to happen.

However, St Killian’s was then told a pilot scheme provided by the Children’s Disability Network Teams would be set up and would include a number of Cork schools in the initial tranche.

When the pilot programme for enhanced in-school therapy supports was announced in late August, St Killian’s was not included.

“The principal in the school is more than happy to meet key staff in the HSE to discuss any issues with governance and the supplier that they have identified is actually an approved supplier to the HSE and Tusla,” Mr Horgan said.

“So, my question is can we get the funding, can we get the therapists into the school now?”

Chief officer for Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Tess O’Donovan said the fact St Killian’s was not included in the pilot “is a concern”.

“That’s not to say that we won’t be able to progress because the next phase of the pilot will be rolling out in October so for St Killian’s to be able to access the external providers, they need to be part of the pilot.”

Ms O’Donovan said, however, that national discussions would enable the next steps.

Ms Rabbitte addressed TDs in the Dáil, saying it is “vitally important to note” that an additional 10 schools will come on board on a phased basis in 2024/2025. These are expected to be identified by the end of October.