More than 13,000 children and adults are waiting to be assessed to determine if they require speech and language therapy, the HSE has said.
Figures provided by the HSE show that 513 people have been on a waiting list for more than a year to establish if they require treatment, and an additional 13,032 have been waiting up to a year to be assessed.
In the year to June, 1,117 children and adults were waiting from eight to 12 months, 366 between 12 and 18 months and 147 for more than 18 months.
Every person presenting to the HSE’s speech and language therapy service has to have an initial assessment to determine their need for therapy. Under the Disability Act, children have a statutory entitlement to an assessment of their needs within a six-month period if they were born after 2002.
Speech and language therapists assess and treat children with a wide range of communication difficulties. Specialists highlight the need for early diagnosis of problems for effective treatment.
Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher said the backlog was a "disgrace" which required a coherent Government response.
“It is an appalling indictment of this Government’s lack of ability to deal with this crisis,” he said. “Speech and language therapy is critical, especially in the formative years. It is a scandal and one that requires urgent attention. It is a collective responsibility for the Government.”
Mr Kelleher said the Minister for Health and Minister for Finance needed to accept that more resources needed to be put in place to ensure people could be assessed early and could access the service.
Marion Meany, head of operations and service improvement for disability services at the HSE, said the waiting period for intervention was "dependent on the nature and severity of the disorder following assessment".
The figures released to Mr Kelleher also show that an additional 8,326 people have been waiting up to two years to be treated.
Ms Meany said the organisation did not focus on waiting numbers and access times.
“The HSE aims to ensure that the resources available are used to best effect, in order to provide assessment and ongoing therapy to children and adults in line with their prioritised needs,” she said. “Along with the significant investment in the area of speech and language therapists employed in recent years, a range of new approaches have been developed and used in many speech and language therapy services across the country.
“These include providing structures, training and support to parents/carers so that they can work to help improve the individual’s speech and language. In addition, therapy is delivered in group settings, where appropriate.”
Ms Meany also pointed to an allocation of €6 million this year, which will allow for 120 new staff appointments.
“These measures will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services for all children requiring access to health related supports,” she added.