Pa Daly
Question:132. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to reduce the backlog for assessments of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13364/26]
View answerThursday, 19 February 2026
Questions (132)
Written answers
Government recognises the unacceptable delays for families in accessing Assessments of Need. Intensive work is underway by the Department and the HSE to address delays and improve the system.
An Assessment of Need is a specific, formal process to determine if a child has a disability as defined under the Disability Act 2005. If it is determined that the child has a disability as defined under the Act, the Assessment of Need process should identify any health and/or education needs, as well as the health services required to meet these needs.
However, demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and families exploring all options to access services for their child. Applications for Assessment of Need have risen from 4,700 applications in 2020 to over 13,000 in 2025.
Unfortunately, this demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to respond. Despite this, there has been continued improvement in the number of completed AON reports with over 5,900 completed in 2025, 43% more than 2024.
This improvement has been achieved by a number of measures, including the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative, which focuses on those families waiting longest for Assessments of Need. Under this Initiative, the HSE procures clinical assessments from approved private providers. Over 7,700 clinical assessments have been commissioned from private providers since the Initiative started in June 2024. The initiative will continue this year with €20 million provided for the delivery of some 6,000 clinical assessments, with a specific focus on autism assessments.
In December 2025, Government announced a series of changes to the Assessment of Need process intended to improve access to both assessments and therapies for children who need them. These changes include targeted amendments to Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need.
The proposed changes to the legislation include:
• Ensuring the assessment process focuses on a child’s needs, so that more intensive clinical assessments are only used where required.
• Development of statutory guidelines to better support HSE assessment officers.
The proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child. They also will not alter the statutory six-month timeline set out in the Disability Act.
The Bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters for pre-legislative scrutiny and the General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. An FAQ document has also been published, providing information on Assessment of Need and the proposed changes for parents and any other interested stakeholders.
It is important to recognise that legislation is only a part of the response. The HSE continues to work on a number of significant non-legislative actions to address the wider issue of access to services and supports for children with disabilities including:
• The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including AON, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.
• Implementation of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol by the HSE in early 2026. The Protocol will provide a standardised assessment process across primary care, mental health and disability services. It will be the preferred assessment route for autism.
• Introduction of a Single Point of Access system by the HSE in 2026. This should make it easier for families to be referred to the right service, whether that is primary care, CDNT or mental health services. It aims to streamline referrals and reduce duplication, so children do not end up on multiple waiting lists.
The Department is working with the HSE to identify further opportunities to enhance processes, improve training, and increase administrative supports for HSE Assessment Officers who are responsible for the production of assessment reports. This includes the establishment of working groups to address learning and development needs and to develop statutory guidelines.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government.