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April 2021 Update from Senator Marie Sherlock


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Just ahead of May Day, we wanted to post a quick update on the work we've been doing in the Oireachtas and locally in Dublin Central over the last month. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there are any local or national issues which you feel we should be aware of.

 

Local Work

 

  • In  March, the Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra contacted us to help them fight the battle to retain their on site specialist speech and language therapist. This is a crucial services in the school. The HSE are currently reconfiguring disability services and had informed a number of special schools across the country that they would be withdrawing their on site therapists. Marie raised the issue in the Seanad on a number of occasions, we gathered 3,455 signatures in an open letter to Government and had numerous interactions with Minister Rabbitte and we are delighted to report that the decision was reversed and the School for the Deaf will keep its vital on-site services.

 

 

 

In the Seanad

 

  • We have continued to make the case for Sick Pay for All. In September 2020, Marie introduced her first bill which would create an essential right to statutory paid sick leave. The Government has chosen to delay this bill by more than six months but we are still fighting to fix this fundamental weakness in our employment law and in our fight against the pandemic.

 

  • As children across the country returned to school, we hosted a conversation with educators, experts and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD on what supports we need to help children catch up. On a weekly basis, we are coming across families waiting anything between 24 and 36 months for access to vital therapeutic supports for their young children. Between this and the psychological impact of the lock down on some children, it's very clear we need action.