Shocking Wait Times for HSE Therapy Services Revealed by Sensational Kids Survey

Children waiting two years or more for therapy from HSE

Construction of New National Child Development Centre in Kildare halted despite huge need for children’s therapies

Sensational Kids, an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to providing therapeutic services to children with additional needs, has today released alarming results from its recent survey. The survey, completed by 236 current and waiting list clients of Sensational Kids, exposes the growing crisis in the provision of essential Health Service Executive (HSE) services across Ireland.

The survey revealed that 87.3% of respondents are currently on a waiting list for HSE services, with families reporting delays of two years or more for critical supports such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychological services.

Key Findings from Sensational Kids’ HSE Therapy Waiting List Survey 2024:

• 73% of respondents are waiting for occupational therapy, 50.85% for speech and language therapy, and 49.15% for psychology services, for their child.
• Almost 30% of families reported waiting for more than two years, with 13% waiting more than three years.
• Regional disparities were noted, with some families in Kildare, Cork, Mayo, and Monaghan reporting particularly lengthy waits. In some areas, families have been waiting up to six years for a diagnosis.

Therapy is a Right, Not a Luxury

Today, one in four children in Ireland has a special educational need, amounting to over 420,000 children who require additional support to realise their potential. These children include those who are autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic, or have Down syndrome, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or developmental delays. Early identification and support are crucial in helping these children thrive.

“The findings from this survey are deeply shocking,” said Karen Leigh, CEO and Founder of Sensational Kids. “The long delays in accessing essential therapy services are leaving children and families in distress. Timely intervention is crucial, and for so many families, it’s just not happening. This is a failure of our public health system. Therapy should not be a luxury reserved for those who can afford to go private; it is a basic human right.”

The huge need for therapy is why Sensational Kids is developing the new National Child Development Centre in Kildare which will cater for 300 children weekly once complete. However, the organisation announced this week that it has been forced to stop the construction work leaving a half-built site in Kildare town. The organisation is calling on the Government, specifically the Department of Justice which manages funding by the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), to release promised funds as a matter of urgency.

Sensational Kids were told by the IIP on 16th October that the IIP will not release the remaining 50% of €9.6 million funding previously committed to the project. The reason given for this decision is a shortfall of an additional €4 million needed for the fit out of the facility currently under construction. The IIP states that it will not release funding until it has evidence of the €4 million needed to complete the fit out of the project. Sensational Kids has been in discussions with officials in relation to bridging this €4 million shortfall for a number of months.

Karen Leigh, founder & CEO, Sensational Kids said, “To have to halt construction work is devastating and hugely frustrating – our survey data highlights the huge need for our services and the awful stress that children and families are under as a result of not receiving therapy. We are urgently calling on the Government, specifically the Department of Justice, to release funds and allow construction work to continue. This sudden refusal to release committed funding now puts the planned National Child Development Centre in Kildare town at risk of not being finished, depriving thousands of children with additional needs throughout the country of receiving long awaited therapies and assessments.”

Parents Share Their Pain and Concerns Over Delayed Intervention

Many families shared their heartbreaking experiences in the survey with one parent highlighting how their child has missed out on crucial early intervention supports due to the devastating delays in being seen – “My son has been on a waiting list since he was three; he’s now nine. The opportunity for early intervention has passed us by”. Another parent remarked “The waiting lists are a disgrace. Early intervention is crucial, yet my child has been left on a list for over five years. The HSE has completely failed him”.

Private therapy is not an option for families who cannot afford it. One parent revealed they had no choice but to seek private therapy – “It’s simply not affordable, but we couldn’t wait any longer. Many families don’t have this option, and it’s unfair.”

Call for Immediate Action

With 8% of children aged under 15 years of age currently on waiting lists for speech therapy and occupational therapy and assessment of need, Sensational Kids is calling for the Government to address the severe shortfalls in HSE services. “Therapy is not an optional extra; it is essential to the well-being and development of children with additional needs. The Government must prioritise these services and ensure no child is left behind because time is of the essence,” urged Leigh.