Disability Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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Emer Higgins (FG), Dublin Mid-West

I thank the Deputy for saying he feels that the single point of access is a sound concept. It is something I am very much committed to and I know it is something the Ministers, Deputy Foley and Deputy Carroll-MacNeill, are very committed to also. The HSE has done a huge amount of work on this. Ultimately, the rollout of a single point of access will be supported by the HSE community connects ICT system and by the regional implementation plans, which are now with each region so they can be fully refined. We expect this to be implemented soon.
In terms of the HSE and the College of Psychiatrists, if the Deputy would like to suggest to the college to write to me or the Minister, Deputy Foley, we would certainly take on board its feedback and be a conduit to the HSE if it feels there are any roadblocks there. Ultimately, what we all are committed to - the HSE, our Department and every person working in our CDNTs across the county - is ensuring families receive the supports necessary to meet their children's needs. Systematic changes have to happen in order to do that and the introduction of the single point of access, along with the 19% increase in the HSE's disability budget for this year to more than €3.8 billion, are clear steps that show we are very serious about this.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23