Cllr. Ted Tynan

Workers’ Party councillor Ted Tynan has described as “shameful” the fact that a three and a half year old girl has had to be put on a HSE waiting list before her family can be provided with a special walking aid to help her learn to walk.

Cllr. Tynan said he was shocked to learn from the parents of the young girl, who has a disability, that they have been told that she is Number 30 on the waiting list for the walker which would be of great assistance in helping her develop her balance and learn to walk.

“Once again we have an example of the type of callous decisions that are being made by the government and the HSE where a child is made to suffer for the sake of crude budgeting decisions.  This child is at a crucial time in her early life, she needs to be given the best chance in life and at this point learning to walk is key for her. What is for the HSE a budgetary decision could set this little girl back years.  It is totally unacceptable”, said Cllr. Tynan.

He said: “In the recent budget the government was able to find very substantial funds to promote private investors and some €64 million was allocated Horse Racing Ireland. It shows that this government has all its priorities wrong and seems to regard vital services as a drain on the economy rather than essential part of a decent society.  I call on the HSE and the government to have some decency and to provide this family with the walker their daughter requires and to do so for all others that require similar assistance”.