Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on CDNT waiting lists for assessments and therapies in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11689/26]
View answerI thank Deputy O’Rourke for his question. This Government and I are committed to reducing waiting lists for assessments and therapies in County Meath and across Ireland.
Progress has been made in this regard. Over the past few years, the Roadmap for Service Improvement, Disability Services for Children and Young People has been the key vehicle for enhancing Children’s Disability Services.
Through this Roadmap, a series of actions have been progressed to improve access to Children’s Disability Network Teams. These teams provided supports to 44,739 children with complex needs as of the end of December 2025.
Since the HSE Roadmap for Service Improvement was approved by Government in July 2023, the National Children’s Disability Network Teams waiting list has reduced by 27%, from 12,920 children awaiting an initial contact with a Children’s Disability Network Team in 2024 to 9,363 children at the end of December 2025.
Waiting lists vary across Meath, with intervention timelines varying based on clinical need. I am informed by the HSE that:
• Waiting-times for team intake in Kells are approximately 12 months followed by between 0 and 6 months for intervention.
• Waiting-times for team intake in Dunshaughlin are approximately 16 months, followed by between 4 and 24 months for intervention.
• Waiting-times for team intake in Navan are approximately 7 months followed by between 1 and 12 months for intervention.
• Waiting times for team intake in Trim are approximately 20 months followed by between 1 and 12 months for intervention.
• Assessment of Need data is not available at county level, but is available by Local Health Office. The number of overdue Assessment of Need reports for Meath Local Health Office at end Q4, 2025 was 1,171.
It is important to emphasise that an “assessment of need” under the Disability Act is not required for a child to access primary care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
I am pleased to say that significant activity is underway, both legislative and operational, to improve access to both assessments and therapies.
In Budget 2026 alone, more than €3.8 billion has been allocated for Disability Services, which represents an overall increase since 2020 of €1.8bn.
This includes further investment in Budget 2026 to fund 150 posts for Children’s Disability Network Teams and €20m to continue the Targeted Waitlist Initiative to deliver up to 6,000 clinical assessments under a new framework.
In addition, placements on Children’s Disability Network Teams will continue to be expanded, alongside a continued expansion in the number of places in higher education, to develop the pipeline of future therapists.
The HSE is developing a Single Point of Access referral model, as a result, children will not be put on multiple waiting lists or passed from one service to another.
I will continue to engage with the HSE, the Department, service providers and families to ensure that children with disabilities receive the supports they require in a timely manner.
