Speech therapy delays could ‘blight lives’

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny yesterday warned thousands of children languishing on waiting lists for speech therapy help could have their lives blighted by the delays.

Mr Kenny said the numbers needing assistance had doubled in Dublin in the last three years alone and 4,000 children still had not been assessed. Mr Kenny said the system was chaotic with children in north Dublin able to get help within three months, while those in the west of the city had to wait for up to 33 months.

“This is a condemnation to a lifetime of under performance, self consciousness, speech impediment and under delivery.