Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
549. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the initiatives and legislative change under way to deal with the backlog in the assessment of needs (AON) list; the way these will impact on reducing the waiting lists for AONs and provide greater access to the necessary therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13211/26]
View answerGovernment recognises the unacceptable delays for families in accessing Assessments of Need. There has been intensive work by the Department and the HSE to address delays and improve the system.
It should be emphasised that children do not require an AON to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or mental health services.
However, demand for AON has increased significantly in recent years. This reflects both the increase in population and families exploring all options to access services for their child. This has led to a growing backlog of applications and long waits for children and their families.
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 several measures, including the AON Targeted Waitlist Initiative. This has resulted in over 7,700 clinical assessments commissioned from approved private providers since 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 AON process intended to improve access to both assessments and therapies for children who need them. These include targeted amendments to Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need. The proposed legislative change 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.
It is important to note that any proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child, nor will they 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 is continuing to focus on the training and development of assessment officers and is working with the Department to identify further opportunities to enhance processes and increase administrative supports for HSE assessment officers.
The HSE is also implementing actions to address the wider issue of access to services and supports for children with disabilities including:
• 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.
• 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.
• The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including AON, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government.
