Sinn Féin Health Spokesman David Cullinane TD will be speaking at the public meeting on the
Constant battle for Parents of Children with Disabilities which takes place at the Talbot Hotel
Clonmel (formerly the Clonmel Park Hotel).
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Teachta Browne said:
“The delays that families across the country have experienced over recent years in securing
Assessments of Need and other interventions is an unacceptable failure of our children.
“Further evidence of this became apparent through a recent High Court ruling which found that the
HSE failed to comply with the Disability Act of 2005 by attempting to circumvent its obligations
under the Act by replacing the Assessment of Needs process with a Standing Operating Procedure.
“As the Children’s Ombudsman said, this effectively created a second waiting list.
“The families that have been affected by this have spoken out. The issue has been raised at
Oireachtas level and has been discussed at length.
“last week, the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability told me that there are staff
shortages in every one of the 91 Children’s Disability Network Teams around the country, and
ultimately, the HSE has admitted to its failings.
“But the matter cannot be left there. The pressure must continue to be put on the HSE and the
Department of Health to implement change, and implement it in a manner that reflects the urgency
of the situation for the many children whose developmental potential is being held back because of
the dysfunction of the system.
“That is why I have asked Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Health David Cullinane to speak to affected
families in Co Tipperary.
“It is only through the application of continued pressure on the Department of Health and the HSE
will we be able to force the change that is needed.”
– The meeting will take place at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel (formerly the Clonmel Park Hotel) at
7.30pm on Monday, April 4 th .
– Plans are underway to hold a meeting in North Tipperary.
– For parents unable to attend, the meeting will be available through Zoom. Please contact
Teachta Browne’s office for details.
– All queries or confirmation of attendance can be made through:
martin.browne@oireachtas.ie or 062 61855.