Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has expressed his bitter disappointment that there are over 2,500 children on the waiting list for audiology services in the HSE community service in Russell Centre, Tallaght and that the average waiting time now experienced was 66 weeks.

Teachta Crowe said:

“New data released to me by the HSE show that there are 2,505 children on the waiting list for audiology services in the HSE community service in Russell Centre, Tallaght and that the average waiting time experienced was now 66 weeks.

“This is entirely unacceptable. By potentially leaving children without hearing aids for more than 16 months, we are limiting their ability to participate fully in education, socialise with their peers or just get on with their everyday lives.

“The statistics also show that here are 22 children who have been waiting for more than two years to access services.

“From audiology services to speech and language therapy to ASD support classes, this Government has abandoned children with disabilities or special needs. It is deeply unfair to children and their parents for increased barriers to be put in their path by a Government that continues ignore to them and deny them basic supports.”