13. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans for introducing a reimbursement scheme for families who have had to pay for private therapies for their child due to long waiting lists for public services. [50027/25]

Sentiment score: -0.03

We are all aware - and it has been discussed already tonight - of the length of waiting lists of families waiting for therapies in this country. I ask the Minister of State to address the House tonight on any plans she may have for a reimbursement scheme for families who have had to pay privately for their child due to these long waiting lists.

Sentiment score: -0.05

I thank the Minister of State. I am all for public services and I welcome the fact the Minister of State is chasing down the maximum number of public services we can and increasing the number of consultants and clinicians we have in that area. Unfortunately, too many families are waiting too long for those much-needed services for speech and language, OT, physiotherapy or whatever their child might need. I know we spoke already about Cara Darmody and the €10 million fund that was created for private assessments of need, and I welcomed that at the time. It was discussed in this House. In supporting any public development, the question around case-by-case basis emergencies remains. Does the Minister of State have any idea how many CDNTs have used that facility of using private services for case-by-case basis emergencies? The number of people coming to my office are probably not aware of that but they are definitely not using that particular emergency service.

Sentiment score: 0.20

I always welcome the Minister of State finishing with a question like that. I am going to use the opportunity once again to raise Sensational Kids, a new building in Kildare town. I am sure the Minister of State is aware of this particular building. It remains unbuilt since November 2024. This building could have allowed up to 300 children per week in the greater Kildare and Leinster area to receive those services I mentioned but also training for those therapists in speech and language, OT and physiotherapy. That was a proposal that was part of Sensational Kids. I understand that proposal is with the HSE now but it would make a difference for so many families in Leinster. I still state that as much as I support public services, families are crying out for that early intervention and those emergency services. Maybe if the Minister of State or her Department get the chance, they might come back to me on how many have availed of those emergency services, and they might also look at that Sensational Kids proposal, which would be so beneficial to so many people in the area I am from.

Sentiment score: 0.18