Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2023-10-26
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

The Deputy had her chance. The investment in education is not pitiful either. It has been significant over the years and major advances have been made, particularly at primary level. Yes, there needs to be progress at second level. We have provided stronger legislative obligations on all second level schools to take in children with special needs. The core rate went up €12. It is not a once-off. The core rate has gone up €29 since the Government came to office in terms of the core rate relating to the disability payment. The core domiciliary rate has increased by even more, which is as it should be. As the Deputy stated, the recruitment of therapists is not a funding issue. It has not been a funding issue for the past few years; it has been a recruitment and retention issue. It is also a work culture issue. When I say that, I mean that the employment space the HSE provides for therapists for children needs to be improved.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2023-10-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:21+00:00
Sitting date: 2023-10-26