Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East and Minister for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, this week announced the inclusion of Rosedale School, Renmore, and St. Teresa’s Special School, Ballinasloe, in the second phase of the HSE led enhanced in-school therapy supports pilot.
Minister Rabbitte made the announcement today, Friday, alongside Minister O’Gorman, Minister Foley, and Minister Naughton. The focus of the pilot is to provide enhanced in-school therapy supports to children in the selected special schools, and is overseen by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Education, the HSE and the NCSE.
The first phase of the pilot was announced by Minister Rabbitte in August, with six schools in Dublin and Cork included, while today’s second phase announcement sees eight special schools in the Dublin/Cork area selected, as well as Rosedale and St Teresa’s. The expansion of this pilot to the additional schools is expected to commence, on a phased basis, starting in January 2025.
Minister Rabbitte commented, “Today’s announcement is a further positive step towards supporting children with complex needs and their families, and I’m delighted to see both Rosedale School and St. Teresa’s Special School included in this second phase. This means, the HSE will, as a starting point, provide occupational and speech and language therapists on site in these schools and marks a significant step forward in prioritising the needs of children with additional needs.
“It makes absolute sense that therapies are provided in schools as it is where children spend most of their day. It also means children don’t have to be removed from school to attend sessions if taking place during the week, which eases pressure on families. I am hopeful that families will see positive benefits for their children extend into the home environment, with the integrated approach between HSE and NCSE personnel being a key element of service delivery.
“It comes following comprehensive engagement between officials in my Department and their counterparts in the Department of Education, the HSE and NCSE. This pilot is part of the overall Government effort to improve children’s disability services across the country and this integrated approach will seek to ensure the educational, health and social needs of children are met with the support of appropriate services,” concluded Minister Rabbitte.
