Niall Collins
Limerick County · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We believe that EU membership is about being aware of the advantages of membership and making sure these are understood by the public. We want to encourage the Irish public to participate in that national conversation.”
“On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank the Deputies for raising these important issues. On 1 April, the Road Traffic Control of Certain Vehicles Regulations 2026, known as Grace's law in memory of Grace Lynch, were signed into law.”
“The Department of Transport is examining the issue of mandating the use of protective equipment for e-scooters and e-bikes along with other road safety-focused measures. Proposals in this regard are under consideration by the Ministers. The Department is also considering the matter of registration for e-scooters.”
“The strategy, A Career for EU, aims to improve Irish participation and success rates in EU recruitment processes for institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and over 50 EU agencies.”
“They already benefit from significant Exchequer-funded rent supports through the housing assistance payment or rental accommodation scheme and, critically, must comply fully with the housing standards for rental houses regulations.”
“The timetable for implementation of all new and enhanced services is subject to funding, operational readiness and capacity. The public transport sector is currently experiencing a significant workforce shortage, particularly among drivers and mechanics.”
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“The operation has two pillars - a harm-reduction, victim-centred approach and information-enabled policing, informing operational responses. The objectives of Operation Fógra are to increase front-line awareness of drug-related intimidation, enhance collaboration with community supports, improve effectiveness of the drug-related intimidation reporting programme and provide a greater analytical understanding of drug-related intimidation, driving appropriate and proactive interventions. An Garda Síochána continues to make arrests under this operation.”
“We are unfortunately all too aware of the immensely damaging impact these organised crime gangs can have on communities. This is yet another key step as we strive to deliver on our commitment to criminalise those who target some of the most vulnerable in our society, namely our children and young people, in order to commit offences. A very serious issue which can result in young people being drawn into criminality is the sale and supply of drugs, most specifically drug-related intimidation. To tackle this, An Garda Síochána has run Operation Fógra since 2020. This operation was established in the Dublin metropolitan region to enhance the understanding of and support An Garda Síochána’s response to incidents of drug-related intimidation in the Dublin metropolitan region.”
“The programme also targets adults who seek to groom children into their criminal networks as one of its key pillars. Reducing the susceptibility of the young people concerned to negative influence by criminal networks has laid positive foundations for greater concentration on the network disruption pillar over this second phase of the trial sites. To further support this work, legislation was introduced last year that makes it an offence for an adult to either force or encourage children to engage in any criminal activity. Those found guilty of the offences under this Act may face imprisonment of up to 12 months on summary conviction and up to five years on indictment. The legislation recognises the lifelong impact and harm done to a child by drawing him or her into criminal activity.”
“In 2023, the most recent year for which official figures are available, the figure was 7,843. Another example of our commitment to youth justice is in the Greentown programme, established by our Department in 2020. This programme aims to reduce the influence of criminal networks on children at risk of involvement. It also seeks to improve the likelihood of pro-social outcomes for children who are already involved in these criminal networks. The Greentown programme has been in place in two locations since 2021, and has now been extended for a further three years. Over the last two years, there have been notable improvements in reducing the influence of criminal networks in the trial site communities. Children and families are better enabled to withstand the powerful attraction of network membership and to make pro-social choices.”
“It is important to reach out to this age group and ensure those in it recognise they will not be abandoned or left to fend for themselves when they officially become young adults as they turn 18. It is also very important to emphasise that youth diversion is not about people avoiding consequences for their actions. It is about recognising that many people who stray from the path need guidance and support to prevent them from reoffending. Every cent that we invest in diverting young people away from the criminal justice system pays us back in spades. It is also important to emphasise that diversion works. At the time of the introduction of the Children Act 2001, some 30,000 children committed crimes each year. By 2016, that had reduced to 10,000 approximately. This decline has continued.”
“It has also allowed for increased availability of these services at weekends and late at night, a key recommendation of our Department's evaluation. It ensures that these vital services are made available when many young people need them most, and it increases our supports for those young people who are hardest to reach and allows for early interventions for eight- to 11-year-olds, who may be at risk of becoming engaged in criminal activity. All of this reflects our continued commitment to investing in our youth for the betterment of our communities. We have also made a commitment to expanding these services to be available to 18- to 24-year-olds. We know from international research that a number of factors place young adults in this age group at a higher risk of becoming involved in criminal behaviour.”
“This means that any child in the country who needs to avail of these services will be able to do so. This expansion has been made possible by the unprecedented funding that has been allocated to youth justice services. The youth justice strategy is not just a plan on paper; it is a commitment to the young people of Ireland and a promise to create a brighter, more equitable future for all. By investing in our youth, we are investing in the future of Ireland. We are building a society where young people can achieve their potential, positively impact their communities and escape cycles of crime. Funding for youth justice services has increased substantially from €18 million in 2020 to just over €36 million in budget 2025.”
“My Department conducted a youth diversion project evaluation that identified decreasing risk levels among participants in respect of peer relations, leisure and recreation, personality and behaviour, and attitudes and orientation. It showed that young people who engaged with youth diversion projects were less involved in criminal or antisocial behaviour and had improved self-confidence and communication skills, increased happiness and an overall improved sense of hope. Two new successful youth diversion applications have recently been commissioned in east Clare and north Tipperary. I am delighted that when these projects are up and running before the end of the year, we will have achieved full nationwide coverage in our youth diversion programme.”
“We all know that there is no quick-fix solution to directing young offenders away from a life of crime. However, these youth diversion projects offer a responsive, empathetic path towards a better quality of life for many. I have been fortunate enough to see first hand the incredible work being done by people up and down the country in these projects. In my capacity as Minister of State, I have visited the LIFE project in my home county of Limerick as well as Solas in the Liberties. Youth diversion projects give renewed hope to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. They offer a chance at a better, more fulfilling life. This work has been shown to have positive impacts on these young people, their families and their communities.”
“It is only by targeting this behaviour that we can break the cycle of young people reoffending. We must all work towards seeking positive outcomes for young people who come into contact with the justice system. We are continuing vital work to implement our youth justice strategy. We have made a commitment in the programme for Government to develop a successor at the end of our current strategy’s lifespan. A key initiative in our current strategy is the continued development and enhancement of our youth diversion projects. These community-based initiatives seek to direct young people who have become involved in crime and antisocial behaviour. They also support wider preventative work within their communities, particularly with at-risk families.”
“The issue of community safety is something that I know is a top priority for the Members of this House. There is no doubt that supporting our young people, particularly those who need it most, will play a central part in achieving this goal. As the new Minister of State, I am filled with hope and optimism for what we can achieve together. The measure of a safe community is how we care for each other and the most vulnerable in our society. How we care for our young people in particular is central to this goal. The youth justice strategy is a forward-thinking plan designed to address the unique challenges faced by young people in Ireland. At its core, it emphasises early intervention, prevention, family support and community engagement. It includes a number of key objectives aimed at promoting positive behavioural change.”
“This is absolutely something we can raise in our next discussion with the Garda Commissioner and his team. In my own experience, I have seen many community outreach and engagement activities by An Garda Síochána so it is not something beyond their capabilities. I do not see any reason why it cannot be done and we will certainly offer that as a suggestion.”
“At the end of the day, we are all practising constituency politicians also and we want to see our own areas policed effectively. That is why the top line job of Government is, which is set out within the programme for Government, that we want to drive recruitment. We are doing everything we can to do that. I have outlined to the Deputy what we are doing. The programme for Government sets out very ambitious plans to get more men and women into An Garda Síochána, to have them attested and policing our front lines and to get them out into our streets in our towns and cities and across our rural communities.”
“The Deputy is correct to raise the issues that impact on his constituency. There is no doubt that the three of us here on the Front Bench are taking note of what he is saying and we will convey his views to the Garda Commissioner. To reiterate, a number of years ago, this House passed a major Bill, which means the entire operational side of An Garda Síochána is in the gift of the Garda Commissioner and his office. It is he and his team who decide upon the allocation of manpower within each Garda division and the number of gardaí to be allocated right across the country. That is something into which we do not have direct input. As a public representative, the Deputy is entitled to, and is right to, raise the concerns he and his constituents have.”
“The divisional officer will consider the allocation of gardaí to these stations with the Galway county east community engagement area should additional resources be allocated to the Galway division. The new operating model is intended to release more front-line gardaí, provide a stronger focus on community policing and transform the delivery of policing services locally. It reflects best international practice and will ensure each division has the resources and skills to deliver a wide range of community policing and specialist services based on the demands in their area.”
“We are informed that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any division, consideration is given to the commitments and undertakings outlined in the annual policing plan. Garda authorities have informed us that the four stations referred to by the Deputy currently have no gardaí assigned to them but it is crucial to note that these areas are still being actively policed. Gardaí attached to larger stations within the Galway county east community engagement area, supplemented by the Galway division roads policing unit, the Galway division crime unit and the Galway division drugs unit, respond to policing needs in the communities referred to.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. I assure him the Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. Our budget for 2025 saw an unprecedented level of funding of €2.48 billion for the year which, as I referenced previously, is a 27% increase since 2020. I have also referenced that we had 149 new gardaí passed out two weeks ago and that we saw more than 200 trainees enter Templemore in the past number of days. While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, we engage with him regularly to ensure our gardaí have the resources they need.”
“We are going to produce a second rural safety plan for 2025 to 2027 later this year and we can speak further about that in due course.”
“Deputy Smith has referenced community safety and criminality in rural areas in particular, as has Deputy Ó Murchú. I reiterate that rural and community safety is not just a job for An Garda Síochána alone. It requires a multiagency, multisectoral and a whole-of-government response. Supporting the work of our national rural safety forum, the Department of Justice first published the Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024. That plan has a vision to ensure people in communities in Ireland feel safe and are safe in their homes, in places of work and in their local environment. It does so by identifying five key areas on which we will focus to achieve the overall goal. These are: community safety, burglary and theft, roads policing, animal crime and heritage crime.”
“The Deputy represents a Border constituency and I re-emphasise there is ongoing close co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland to tackle cross-Border criminality, including through the mechanism of the joint agency task force established under the 2015 Northern Ireland Fresh Start Agreement. This task force is producing results and helping to keep people safe in really practical, visible ways through customs seizures, identifying victims of human trafficking and joint days of action against organised crime groups. North-South co-operation in policing and criminal justice continues to be a priority for the Government. The Minister met his counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Minister, Naomi Long MLA, last week to discuss how best to combat serious and organised crime on our island.”
“This increase in Garda numbers is allowing for sustained investment in front-line policing and in specialist units such as the very successful drugs and organised crime bureau. An Garda Síochána continues to implement the enhanced national anti-drugs strategy in Operation Tara, the focus of which is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels, namely, international, national and local, that are involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs. The Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the whole-of-government national drugs and alcohol strategy, which sets out a health-led response to drug and alcohol use.”
“The projects are community-based, multiagency youth crime prevention initiatives that primarily seek to divert young people at risk of involvement in antisocial or criminal behaviour, or both. I was very pleased to announce two new projects last month, which will achieve the target set out in the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 of full national coverage. The Government is also fully committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to fight crime. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in budget 2025. That was a 27% increase in budget since 2020. We were delighted to witness 149 new gardaí passing out of Templemore two weeks ago and to see more than 200 trainees, the largest intake since 2019, enter the Garda College recently.”
“I thank the Deputy for his long-standing interest in this issue and for raising it. Tackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, which inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities in rural Ireland, is a top priority for the Government and our Department. As part of budget 2025, €36 million has been allocated to youth justice services. This investment will facilitate an increase in the capacity of youth diversion projects for the young people who need them the most, as well as increased supports for families and early interventions for children who may be at increased risk of becoming engaged in criminal activity. This approach is strongly supported by evidence from the University of Limerick.”
“Important progress has been made but we must work harder collectively to improve the system and further enhance supports for victims of gender-based violence. Reform takes time, but my Department and Government colleagues are fully committed to making it work better for those who need it, for those who are the victims of these horrific crimes who must be at the centre of everything we do to reform this process.”
“Divisional protective service units have been rolled out so that specially trained gardaí are available to support victims of sexual offences across the country. In addition, a new sexual offences unit has also been established in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. My Department is funding a professional diploma in intermediary studies at the University of Limerick. A pilot scheme has been put in place in criminal courts nationwide and a register of qualified intermediaries is available to the DPP and the court. A review of the effectiveness of the pilot scheme will inform further improvement and roll-out of the intermediary system. I again thank Deputies for their wholehearted and emphatic contributions. I ask them to keep the spotlight on gender-based violence active.”
“Cuan is also working in partnership with the Department of Education on the new SPHE curriculum across junior and senior cycle in secondary schools, and oversees the highly successful "Consent Ed" project in partnership with Galway Rape Crisis Centre, which provides training for secondary school teachers. In an age-appropriate way, these resources cover healthy relationships, boundaries, consent and challenge misogyny and gender-based violence. In addition, the Higher Education Authority and Cuan are co-funding the development of a new sexual violence awareness campaign, which will be rolled out across 12 higher education institutes in early 2026. A number of other key actions have been delivered under the five-year zero tolerance strategy.”
“A total of 12 new refuge spaces were delivered in 2024. In 2025, this year, Cuan expects 22 new units to be delivered in Dublin and Louth with a further 49 units due to be under construction or due for refurbishment in 2025. That will bring the total number of new units to be delivered or under construction to 230 by the end of 2025, which is up from 140 at the outset of the strategy. Deputies mentioned the need for education programmes to tackle DSGBV. Cuan is leading on the awareness-raising campaigns designed to reduce the incidence of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Irish society as well as ensuring that all victims know how to access the supports they require.”
“Work is progressing on an appropriate legislative amendment, which is a priority for the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. A central element of delivering on the zero-tolerance goal of the third national strategy was the establishment of a statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, Cuan, which was launched one year ago this week. Cuan has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. It works in collaboration with the NGO and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services sectors to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors, including safe and accessible accommodation. Some Deputies mentioned refuge spaces.”
“Officials in my Department are examining as a matter of urgency what steps, including adjustments to the legislation concerned, could be taken to ensure the appropriate balance between the rights of a victim to privacy and to seek counselling help and the right of a defendant to a fair trial can be achieved in practice. Any changes to the law must be very carefully considered to avoid the risk of constitutional challenge. Another focus of the motion has been on removal of guardianship rights for those who kill the other parent of their children. This is a commitment in the programme for Government as part of the ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the study on familicide and domestic and family violence death reviews.”
“However, it appears that this provision is not operated in practice as intended. Given the importance of the issue, the third national strategy on DSGBV committed to examining and reviewing the issues again, including from the victim and survivor perspective. To progress this important work, an interdepartmental working group, led by the Department of Health, was established in 2024 and includes stakeholders from the sexual violence NGO sector that ensure collaborative input from vital victim and survivor services is taken into account.”
“This is a complex and highly sensitive area, balancing individuals' rights. On the one hand, there is the victim’s right to personal privacy and on the other, the accused person's right to a fair trial. This entails a right to disclosure of any material that may strengthen the defendant's case or weaken that of the prosecution and if this is breached, the prosecution may be compromised or the conviction quashed. The law in this area was substantially reformed in 2017 by the insertion of a new section 19A into the Criminal Evidence Act 1992, which created a new process by which the court would examine applications to release counselling notes and make a decision taking into account the right of the victim to privacy and the risk of traumatisation while ensuring the constitutional right of the accused to a fair trial.”
“The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 addressed a number of recommendations set out in the comprehensive O'Malley Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences, including around anonymity and legal representation in certain contexts. It also introduced a provision relating to character references in sexual offence cases. Now, regardless of whether a reference is being provided in person or in writing, this must be done on oath or via an affidavit. This requirement underlines the gravity of providing a character reference for a convicted sex offender and it goes further than the regime in place for other serious crimes such as robbery or manslaughter. A number of Deputies raised the issue of the disclosure of counselling records.”
“In addition, we now have new stand-alone offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation. Both of these offences are common ways in which abusers target victims. It has been shown that non-fatal strangulation can be an indication of future, lethal violence and is a risk factor for homicides against women in the home. Other legislative reforms have extended restrictions on perpetrators cross-examining victims and provided for preliminary trial hearings. The introduction of pre-trial hearings has helped to increase efficiency in how trials are run and allow for difficult issues to be dealt with in advance. This reduces delays and eases what can be a traumatic process for victims.”
“As Minister of State with responsibility for international law, law reform and youth justice; I have a key role in supporting the Minister and Government colleagues to keep driving improvements to the criminal justice system, and to supporting victims of gender-based violence. I am deeply committed to this important work. The Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence was published in 2022, and runs to the end of 2026. Under this zero-tolerance strategy, we have increased funding for supporting victims, introduced new legislative provisions, and established Cuan as a dedicated agency to further drive this work. The Minister mentioned some of the reforms that have been introduced to better support victims of gender-based violence, including increasing the maximum sentence for assault causing harm.”
“My thanks to People Before Profit-Solidarity for tabling this motion on gender-based violence. I acknowledge also the emphatic contributions made by all speakers across the House. Like other speakers, I also want to acknowledge our visitors in the Gallery today and thank them for their input. As the Minister made clear earlier, the Government is not opposing this motion. We are all in agreement that we need to keep the momentum of change going as we work towards our objective of zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Irish society. The programme for Government commits to tackling this epidemic as a major priority.”
“A new coroners Act will also review the criteria that dictate whether a death investigation is required, with a view to conducting a low number of death investigations, where possible, to minimise the impact on bereaved families. Ireland undertakes more coronial death investigations than comparable jurisdictions and it is a process that can be highly distressing, as the Deputy said, for families of the bereaved. The needs of those bereaved families will be at the centre of the Department's reforms. A restructured and modernised coroner service will drive consistency and assist coroners in the delivery of this important service. We will revert to the Deputy on the timing of the Bill, which I mentioned in my first contribution. We will also revert with the details of the additional support provided to the Dublin coroner service.”
“I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter The Department of Justice is committed to driving the modernisation of the coroner service in Ireland. There are many positive aspects to the current service. Foremost is the compassion of coroners and their staff when engaging with bereaved family members. A number of areas would benefit from being modernised. For this reform process to be effective, it needs to take into account the views of coroners and people who interact with the coroner service. The Department of Justice is working on the modernisation project in respect of the Dublin district coroner's office, for which it has operational responsibility. It is intended that the lessons learned in the Dublin district will be used in the development of a national model once the supporting legislation has been enacted.”
“As mentioned, the Department of Justice has direct responsibility for the Dublin coroner's district and the Minister has utilised powers conferred on him in the Act to ensure that an appropriate number of coroners are in place to address waiting times for bereaved families.”
“The heads of Bill, which will be brought to Government this year, aim to address all aspects of the Coroner Service, including establishment of an independent office of the chief coroner, who will be responsible for setting standards, providing guidance and overseeing the activities of full-time salaried coroners, a model in line with best practice internationally. In recognition of the time required to prepare and progress a replacement to the Coroners Act 1962, as amended, through the Houses, the Coroners (Amendment) Act 2024 was signed into law in February last year. This Act made provision for the assignment and appointment of temporary coroners where workload demands warrant such assignment. This ensures that there will be adequate coronial provision in all districts pending the reform of the service.”
“A decision to direct a post-mortem examination or to hold an inquest must rest entirely with the individual coroner. The Minister is aware of the increasing challenges in securing histopathologists for a number of reasons to carry out coroner-directed post mortem examinations. The Department established a standing committee on coroner-directed post mortem examinations in 2022, which is tasked with considering the core issues involved in the provision of a sustainable pathology service to coroners. Following a consultation process on the reform of the Coroner Service, the Department has received approval from Government to draft the general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service in order to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people.”
“On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on a number of issues. The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners in districts throughout the country and a coroner is an independent office holder. The Department of Justice has direct responsibility for providing financial and administrative support to the Dublin District Coroner's Office since January 2018. Outside Dublin, the relevant local authorities fund the costs of all other coronial districts. The Minister recognises the significance and sensitivity of the coronial investigation process for loved ones of the bereaved. Neither the Minister nor the Department can interfere with a coroner in the exercise of his or her statutory death investigation function.”
“Detailed engagement continues between the Minister of State's officials and the HSE to seek practical and implementable solutions to address the issues of waiting lists for both assessments of need and interventions. I assure the Deputy that the matter is receiving the most urgent attention.”
“It is also important to acknowledge that the CDNTs are providing services and supports to more than 42,000 children via 92 dedicated teams across the country. These teams are providing strategies and supports for urgent cases on the waiting lists where staffing resources allow. This Government provided funding for additional posts to enhance the capacity of CDNTs and shorten waiting times in recent years. In 2025, €25 million has been made available for children's services building on existing recruitment initiatives with funding focused on various positions across the CDNTs, including 20 senior therapist posts, 20 staff grade posts, 20 health and social care assistant posts and 15 clinical trainee posts.”
“The overall HSE disability budget for 2025 has increased to €3.2 billion. That equates to an 11.6% increase over the previous year. This matter remains an extremely high priority for the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, for the Government and for senior leadership within the HSE. The HSE is supporting families of children while they are on waiting lists. These initiatives include access to webinars, workshops and advice clinics among other measures. This will ensure families continue to receive engagement from teams as they await further supports. It is important to reiterate that a child does not require a statutory assessment of need to access disability services.”
“In May 2024, the Government announced a decision to finance the assessment of need waiting list initiative through the procurement of private assessments for long-waiting families. Between June and December 2024, some 2,479 assessments of need were commissioned from private providers at a total cost of approximately €8.2 million. The Government has provided funding for additional posts to enhance the capacity of CDNTs and shorten waiting times in recent years, with a further investment in budget 2025 to fund additional therapy posts and clinical trainee places.”
“Ongoing recruitment and retention measures include: the HSE facilitating direct access for funded agencies to existing HSE health and social care professionals panels, which will shorten the recruitment process and provide direct access to competent and eligible candidates; the Department of children and equality working with the HSE to seek to introduce specific recruitment and retention incentives for therapists who work in CDNTs and a CDNT sponsorship programme with bursaries for fourth year and postgraduate students linked to acceptance of conditional job offers; placements on CDNTs continuing to be expanded alongside a continued expansion in the number of places in higher education; and the roll-out of regional assessment hubs, including in CHO 9, which will see the provision of personnel dedicated to the delivery of assessments of need, while preserving the time for other clinical staff for purposes of therapy interventions.”
“While recruitment and retention of staff are a challenge across the sector overall, a significant focus of the Government is filling vacant posts within the 93 CDNTs which are providing supports for more than 42,000 children. The Government has provided funding for additional posts to enhance the capacity of CDNTs in recent years. The HSE has advised that there was a net addition of 272 staff in CDNTs in 2024, a 17% increase compared with 2023.”
“The HSE advises that 10,690 applications for assessments of need were received in 2024, with approximately 4,160 completed, which is a 30% increase on the 3,205 applications completed in 2023. Demand for assessments of need has more than doubled compared with the 4,700 applications received in 2020. In CHO 9, 1,690 assessment of need applications were received in 2024, which marks a 14% increase from 2022 when 1,467 assessment of need applications were received. As of December 2024, 3,193 assessments of need applications in CHO 9 were overdue for completion. The HSE has also advised that in CHO 9, 2,086 children were offered an initial contact, individual or group intervention with a CDNT in December 2024, while 2,596 were waiting for an initial contact at the end of the month.”
“I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this important issue. The Government and the HSE are fully committed to enhancing services to better support children with disabilities in Ireland. The Progressing Disability Services Roadmap 2023-2026 focuses on the ongoing development of CDNTs to meet current and growing demand. A child does not require a diagnosis to access services. CDNTs provide a multidisciplinary assessment of individual needs and strengths as well as therapy supports. The demand for assessments of need has increased significantly in recent years, a reflection of both the increase of population and of families exploring all options for accessing services for their children.”
“Unfortunately, despite all of the issues just mentioned, the State has to have the capacity to be able to put people behind bars where the crimes so dictate or the courts so decide.”