What we have in Laois and Offaly in relation to services for children with special needs and autism is a black spot. There are roughly 900 children at any one time on a waiting list for assessment of needs. There is no occupational therapy, OT, in primary care for children and young adults in Laois, and the latest information I have is that there is no approval to recruit such an occupational therapist. Four OT posts are vacant in children and young people's services. I asked the HSE on 17 February to confirm if approval had been given, but I still have not received an answer. The Minister for Health is sitting beside the Tánaiste. Is there approval from the Department of Health and the HSE management to recruit occupational therapists for young persons and children in Laois and Offaly? What progress is being made on that? Is the answer "Yes" or "No"?

Sentiment score: 0.22

I ask that it be followed up.

Sentiment score: 0.00