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Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Meath East TD says children's disability services 'chronically understaffed'
Speaking in the Dáil last week, and coinciding with the 50 hour sleepout protest of 14-year-old campaigner Cara Darmody, Teachta Darren O'Rourke highlighted that there are staffing shortages within the region's four Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNTs). He said: 'In Meath, in CDNT 2 covering the Kells area, and CDNT 5 covering the Navan and Slane area, one in four therapist posts is vacant. Figures released to me by the HSE, confirm that to be the case. In CDNT 4, covering the Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin area, it is worse, one in three posts is vacant. In CDNT 6, covering the Trim area, it is worse again - almost two in three posts are vacant, or 62pc.' A children's disability network team provides specialised support and services for children who have a disability and complex health needs associated with their disability. The CDNT supports a child's development, wellbeing and participation in family and community life. 'There is a complete lack of capacity in the system, and it isn't a new development. It is a chronic situation, and it means children with disabilities cannot access the essential assessments and therapies that they need.' "It is simply not good enough. There needs to be an urgency from the government to fill these posts - not just in Meath but right across the state.' Mr O'Rourke added that the staffing gaps also hit primary care services. He revealed that since April 2022, 1.5 whole-time equivalent paediatric occupational therapist posts based in Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin are vacant, meaning there is no occupational therapist in that primary care service. 'It is a natural instinct for a parent to want to get every help necessary for their child to reach their full potential but the services simply aren't there,' the Sinn Féin TD said. "On Assessments of Needs (AONs), the government must stop breaking the law. Instead of proposing to change the law itself, they should invest in children's disability services, ensure we train and employ sufficient therapists to meet the obligations provided for in the DIsability Act. Children need assessments and they need therapies. Government are failing on both counts."
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
RSA plans fall short say frustrated Meath representatives
The Road Safety Authority announced its plans to reduce driving test waiting times nationwide to 10 weeks. This has been met with 'cautious' optimism by Navan's local representatives - who say the town's backlog, currently standing at 41 weeks (one of the longest waits in the country), remains a pressing issue. The mayor of Navan, Cllr Edward Fennessy said: 'Whilst I welcome today's announcement, I do so with caution. We've heard it all before.' He added: 'Backlogs in this service have a serious knock-on effect right across the spectrum. Younger people and rural communities are particularly hard hit. Not having the independence to travel to work, school, or college puts them at a very unfair disadvantage.' 'The issue has always been about capacity. We don't have enough test centres. We don't have enough testers.' The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is also set to open new driving test centres and expand the hours for tests in an effort to reduce the massive backlog in waiting times. Meath East TD Darren O'Rourke said he is not convinced that these measures 'will go far enough.' 'At the root of the backlogs is a lack of capacity within the system. The RSA and the government need to ensure that capacity is in place. This must include not just increasing the number of test centres but also the working hours of the test centres as well,' he said. 'The delays are having a significant impact on people, especially the younger people. Getting a driver's license is a rite of passage, it is an opportunity for independence. It is also an opportunity to access education or employment.' Mr O'Rourke added that many parts of Meath don't have access to good public transportation service. Meanwhile Councillor Emer Tóibín said this is an issue that has 'taken so long to deal with it' 'This has been going on for years but it just got particularly bad now,' she said. 'The impact on young people is awful. The government failed to be pro-active, it is now reactive. The measures proposed don't go far enough to allow people to get on with their lives. Every young person's life is on hold' In the Navan centre, the expected time of sitting a test if you applied today would be January next year. But the RSA hopes that the proposed plans will bring the average waiting time down from 27 weeks to 10 weeks by early September. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Irish Examiner
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Watch: Ugly scenes mar College Corinthians' Munster Youth Cup win over Pike Rovers
The Munster Football Association have launched an investigation into the ugly scenes that marred College Corinthians' Munster Youth Cup final victory over Pike Rovers. Padraig McGrath was the hero as Corinthians defeated Rovers 3-1 in the JAKO Ireland Munster Youth Cup final at Turner's Cross on Sunday afternoon. But the showpiece occassion ended in controversial circumstances as players and supporters clashed on the pitch in injury time and also after the match between the Cork and Limerick teams had concluded. The boiling point is believed to have come after a player from each team was sent off by referee Darren O'Rourke late on before Corinthians were soon crowned champions. A mass brawl then ensued before the guards were called and arrived in huge numbers while an ambulance was also required to aid an injured College Corinthians player, although he did not require hospital attention. "I can't go into anything at this stage as this is so fresh, but a fair and full investigation will take place immediately once we get the referee's report," Barry Cotter from the MFA told the Echo. The MFA committee will meet in the coming days to discuss the incident while College Corinthians and Pike Rovers have not commented on the incidents.
The Journal
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Teachers will vote on industrial action if concerns over Leaving Cert reforms aren't addressed
TEACHERS ARE CONSIDERING industrial action in a bid to push the government to act on their concerns about proposed reforms to the Leaving Certificate. Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) agreed at the union's annual convention in Killarney yesterday to ballot for industrial action if it is not satisfied with the Department of Education's engagement in talks about the reforms. The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) is expected to discuss a similar proposal at its conference in Wexford. The government wants to several reforms to the Leaving Cert starting from this September, including more non-exam assessments like projects and practicals in select subjects. Advertisement Teachers are concerned about how the moves will affect the way students are assessed and marked, especially in the context of the risk of students using artificial intelligence to complete assignments. Minister for Education Helen McEntee spoke at the ASTI conference yesterday, where she said she intends for the talks between her department and teachers' union to be wrapped up by the beginning of May. Also speaking at the ASTI conference yesterday, Sinn Féin education spokesperson Darren O'Rourke called on the government to listen to the concerns raised by teachers. The TD said that the current reform plans, if 'pushed forward without meaningful engagement with educators', would 'risk undermining the quality and fairness of our Leaving Certificate'. 'Teachers have raised valid concerns about workload pressures, inadequate resources, and the potential for increased inequality under the proposed changes, including due to the impact of artificial intelligence,' he said. 'The minister must pause this rushed process and engage in genuine consultation with all stakeholders, particularly the professionals who deliver education every day. Reforms must enhance, not hinder, the learning experience for students.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
