Petition is addressed to: School administration of St Cecilia school

Following recent communication from the CDNT, we have learned that the current Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) assigned to St. Cecilia's School is beginning maternity leave.

After discussions with the CDNT manager, we were informed that the HSE has no plans to provide SLT support to the children of St. Cecilia's until March/April 2025, when another SLT is expected to return.

As parents, we find it wholly unacceptable and unethical for the HSE to leave children with severe to profound complex needs without essential SLT services for up to six months. We
demand that the HSE immediately provide an SLT to deliver the necessary level of support to our children, and to work collaboratively with teachers and parents/guardians.

Additionally, we urgently request the assignment of an Occupational Therapist (OT) to support the children at St. Cecilia's. It is imperative that both the SLT and OT assigned offer a complete,
dedicated service rather than a nominal presence.

If the HSE cannot meet this critical need immediately, we call on them to allocate the necessary funding directly to St. Cecilia's School so that an SLT and OT can be sourced independently.
This has already been facilitated by the HSE for St.Killians special needs school in Co. Cork, and we insist on the same consideration.