Focus on child disability services

Sir, – The recent criticism of Taoiseach Simon Harris following on from the defeated carer referendum has shone a welcome light on child disability services in Ireland.

Parents of Irish children with disabilities have been abandoned by politicians across the political spectrum and indeed regulatory bodies when it comes to providing oversight of both the HSE and Department of Health. In fact, the only State institution currently doing its job in terms of providing oversight is the High Court.

Parents of vulnerable children should not have to repeatedly take legal actions to secure services but that sadly is the reality in Ireland today. Politicians who are normally extremely vocal and never shy of the limelight remain strangely silent as parent after parent is forced to take the HSE to the High Court. Parents who have to constantly fight HSE management for services are entitled to ask why the HSE appears to have a blank cheque from the taxpayer when it comes to spending on legal fees to not provide child disability services.

If politicians are really concerned about Irish children with disabilities, they could start showing it by challenging senior HSE and Department of Health management who fail to deliver. – Yours, etc,