HSE say they will NOT withdraw services for children with special needs in Sligo preschool

The HSE have confirmed that they will NOT be withdrawing certain services from the Holy Family Preschool based in Ballytivnan, Sligo.

In a statement released to OceanFM News this afternoon, the HSE state that Sligo/Leitrim Disability Service are not withdrawing the services that it currently provides which include Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy for children with special needs.

OceanFM News yesterday reported that the school would no longer offer Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy.

The HSE statement further state that a Speech and Language Therapist has been appointed while a recruitment process is underway for an Occupational Therapist as staff from the Children’s Disability Network Team have been supporting the school in this regard as they wait.

The statement in full is below.

============================

“The HSE wishes to confirm that Sligo/Leitrim Disability Service are not withdrawing the services that it currently provides to Holy Family Pre-school in Sligo Town.

Under Progressing Disability Services, the Children’s Disability Network Team 0-18 years in Sligo reconfigured in July 2021.   Children and their families will have access to the full range of services and supports of the Children’s Disability Network Team according to their individual needs. 

The HSE Sligo/Leitrim Children’s Disability Services has a long standing working relationship with the Holy Family School and open communication has always been a key aspect of liaising with services. Ongoing communication has taken place with Holy Family School with regards to the reconfiguration of services.   The Children Disability Network Team Managers from Sligo and Leitrim met with the preschool’s management on the 27^th August 2021 and it was agreed that the Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy support to meet the needs of children will continue.

A Speech and Language Therapist has been appointed to meet the needs of the children and this Speech and Language Therapist has made contact with the preschool in recent days. A recruitment process for an Occupational Therapist is underway and an Occupational Therapist will be appointed to children at the school once this recruitment process has been completed.  In the interim staff from the Children’s Disability Network Team have been supporting the occupational therapy needs of children attending the school.”