Local Senator says pay and recruitment are main causes of speech therapy waiting lists

A local Senator has welcomed news that the government could seek to recruit speech therapists from Northern Ireland to address waiting lists and local staff shortages.

Joe O'Reilly raised the issue of prolonged waiting lists in the Seanad with Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Anne Rabbitte.

Senator O'Reilly told Northern Sound that this followed a "heart-rending" meeting with local parents who were "frustrated with waiting lists and a lack of available professionals".

Speaking in the Seanad, Deputy Rabbitte added that work is ongoing to address pay imbalances between Section 38, Section 39 and HSE staff.

Joe O'Reilly told this afternoon's Wider View that pay and recruitment are the two key issues:

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