Almost 90 per cent of kids attending Kildare therapy centre on HSE waiting lists

ALMOST nine out of every 10 kids (87.3%) now engaging with Sensational Kids – the therapy centre forced to hall construction on its new facility in Kildare town – are currently on a HSE waiting list for treatments, with some families reporting waits of up to two years.

The survey, completed by 236 current and waiting list clients of Sensational Kids, exposes the growing crisis in the provision of essential Health Service Executive (HSE) services across Ireland, particularly in critical supports such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychological services.

Almost three-quarters (73.7%) of respondents are waiting for occupational therapy, more than half (50.8%) for speech and language, and almost that again (49.1%) for psychology services.

As regards waiting lists, more than a quarter (28.8%) reported waiting for more than two years, 13 per cent waiting more than three years, and one family waiting up to six years for a diagnosis.

Today, one in four children in Ireland has a special educational need, amounting to over 420,000 children who require additional support to realise their potential.

These children include those who are autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic, or have Down syndrome, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or developmental delays.

Unsurprisingly, early identification and support are crucial in helping these children thrive.

“The findings from this survey are deeply shocking,” said Karen Leigh, CEO and Founder of Sensational Kids.

“The long delays in accessing essential therapy services are leaving children and families in distress. Timely intervention is crucial, and for so many families, it’s just not happening. This is a failure of our public health system.

“Therapy should not be a luxury reserved for those who can afford to go private; it is a basic human right.” 

The huge need for therapy is why Sensational Kids is developing the new National Child Development Centre in Kildare which will cater for 300 children weekly once complete. 

However, the organisation announced recently that it has been forced to stop the construction work leaving a half-built site in Kildare town (as featured on the front page of The Kildare Nationalist).

“The organisation is calling on the Government, specifically the Department of Justice which manages funding by the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), to release promised funds as a matter of urgency,” said Ms Leigh.

She has found some public support from a senior member of the outgoing Government, the Minister for State at Agriculture Martin Heydon TD.

“I have worked with Karen Leigh and Sensational Kids over the past number of years and specifically during the challenges of recent days and weeks,” he said, referring to the stall over the €4.1m shortfall in funding, however, a solution may take longer that hoped for.

Following a query to the Department of Justice, this statement was issued.

“The Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023,” said Cian McGonigle, a spokesperson for the DoJ.

The IIP was the specific funding that Sensational Kids were drawing on.

 “Information in relation to the winding down of the programme and the processing of applications is published on the Immigration Service Delivery website, where an FAQ is also available,” he added.

“The department does not comment on individual Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) applications, but does communicate with projects seeking to benefit from investments made in connection with an IIP application about how the terms of the programme apply to their particular project, including as to how the arrangements for winding up apply in their case.

“The department has no role in relation to the administration of a project, and does not hold any funds at any stage. This is a private matter between a potential investor and a potential project".