Divided opinions on public therapy service audit

THERE were conflicting views on whether or not an audit is needed to ensure more Clare children with special needs receive public therapy.

Ann Norton from Clare Crusaders raised the issue of limited public services for children in the county, claiming the HSE is seeing between 13 and 14 children per week, compared to private therapists who see up to 37.
Dr John Hillery said an audit is needed to establish the reasons behind the alleged public/private imbalance. While children are guaranteed an assessment under the Disability Act, he recalled it was watered down, so they are not entitled to receive a service afterwards.
“It should be a constitutional right of every child that they get the service their assessment states they are due. The assessment has no legal standing, which is very frustrating for parents. We should bring in a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the rights of a child to a service and if a service isn’t guaranteed after that, a person’s constitutional rights are being infringed,” he said.
He pointed out there are a lot of unfilled public speech therapy posts because of the embargo and certain professional issues requiring qualifications, which can be looked at and changed. He also supported the provision of individual budgets to parents to allow them spend money on therapy they feel is most appropriate.
Deputy Carey said the HSE could learn a lot from the therapy provided by Clare Crusaders for special needs children. “The waiting times for speech therapy in Clare is horrendous, yet if you go down to Clare Crusaders, you will get a service. It should be child-centred and not service-centred,” he added.
Councillor Tony Mulcahy opposed the proposed audit, claiming children could be left waiting 10 years before being provided with a service.
However, Dr Hillery felt a review should only take a week to complete. “For €250,000 a year, the service provided by Clare Crusaders is exceptional. I know what Ann does and Mary in the clinic working off a mobile phone.
“Maybe we should look at letting Clare Crusaders run the service, we would have a far better service at about one-tenth of the cost,” Councillor Mulcahy countered.
Gerry Walshe claimed he was told by a HSE employee that a “three-tier” bureaucracy is about to be introduced, which would make the service worse.
“A child is supposed to be assessed within three months but it is anyone’s guess what happens after that,” he added.
Meanwhile, independent candidate, Ann Cronin said special needs assistants should be given proper training to help them specialise in a particular area of benefit to children with disabilities.
Having worked as a special needs assistant before she became a psychologist, Ms Cronin proposed SNAs be upskilled, not in a five-week FETAC course but over six months to advance their career by specialising in law or Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA).
“Clare children are being assessed by the HSE, yet the HSE are not talking to the Department of Education, so children have to go back through waiting lists for more assessments. SNAs are with children who have autism, who are not allowed to teach them social skills. The teacher doesn’t have the time and that is what SNAs should be doing.
“The Government have rowed back on the Synott case and dramatically cut the number of SNAs. Now you can only get a SNA on two specific needs compared to a number of grounds previously,” she noted.
Francis O’Halloran had raised the issue of access to education, funding and overall investment for children with special needs and those who have great ability, such as Mensa pupils in primary schools.
Deputy Carey pledged that Fine Gael is committed to tackling disadvantages and continuing the Early Childhood Scheme, giving more of a say to parents in the running of schools. He said there is a need to change the curriculum and improve education standards for literacy.
Sarah Ferrigan said education should be accessible to the low paid and those on social welfare. “The cost is enormous. A lot of people can’t afford it,” she added.

Candidates highlight willingness to take pay cuts
SIX Independent candidates made an unequivocal pledge to work for a basic salary of €35,000 if elected.
Patrick Brassil, Ann Cronin, Gerry Walshe, Sarah Ferrigan and Brian Markham made the pledge following a proposal from another non-party candidate, Jim Connolly, that all new deputies should be prepared to work for this starting salary.
Interestingly, none of the bookies’ favourites to take one of the four seats in the county, Deputy Timmy Dooley, Deputy Pat Breen, Deputy Joe Carey, Dr John Hillery or Michael McNamara offered to work for a salary less than half of the current TD pay rates of over €90,000.
Green Party candidate, Brian Meaney, who is considered a rank outsider to take a seat, confirmed he is prepared to work for a salary of €40,000, while Independent Madeline McAleer told the audience she would do the job for €50,000.
Mr Connolly stressed Ireland could not afford to pay the high salaries currently being awarded to civil servant managers in semi-state bodies and Oireachtas members.
He said deputies have to lead by example by taking significant pay cuts to show the way for the rest of society in a bid to dramatically reduce public sector pay and help get people back to work.
Ann Cronin noted that she would be proud and humbled to work for €35,000 because it would connect her with the people she is representing, while Sarah Ferrigan pointed out that any new deputy must understand how people are suffering and felt their pay should be linked to the average industrial wage.
Stating he was the only Clare politician who took a voluntary 5% pay cut, Deputy Carey confirmed he is prepared to take a further reduction.
Timmy Dooley, Pat Breen, Michael McNamara and Tony Mulcahy confirmed they would be prepared to work for the pay rate set by the next finance minister.
Gerry Walshe suggested the top salaries should be reduced down to €100,000 and €50,000 and by lowering wages, people would enter politics for the right reasons. Mr McNamara agreed that the pay rates for the Taoiseach and ministers are too high and noted that Labour have already proposed dramatic cuts.
Dr Hillery called for a review of public sector pay. “I am high-paid public servant, I would take a pay cut. If you set salary at certain levels, the only individuals to go into politics will be wealthy people,” he said.