Dialysis speech therapy offer from grandfather stuns Dáil

RTÉ reported that the grandfather, 52, offered to end his own dialysis treatment so his three-year-old grandson, who is non-verbal, could get speech therapy.

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty raised the case in the chamber on Thursday, 5 November.

He called the offer a sign of the desperation many families face, as he told TDs that 6,170 children nationwide are waiting to begin speech therapy.

"I know what my outcome will be, but I would give anything to hear his little voice," the grandfather said.

The plea showed the man's stress, anxiety and love for his grandson, Tánaiste Simon Harris told the Dáil.

According to Harris, the Government recognises that therapy waiting lists remain too long nationwide.

He pointed to a number of initiatives aimed at cutting the primary care backlog that delays diagnoses and treatment for children.

The reassurance comes as ministers finalise Budget 2027 spending plans that will set HSE funding for next year.

"The Government does recognise that therapy waiting lists are still too long, and there's a number of initiatives being taken to try to reduce the primary care waiting list," Harris said.

He added that he wanted to thank the grandfather for raising the issue and would ensure the HSE acted on the details.

It comes during a year that has not been easy for the health service, including when Irish MEPs wrote to the Health Minister over AI chatbots directing women in crisis to anti-abortion websites.