Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
120. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the recently revised assessment of need framework limits or reduces access to cognitive assessment for children, including in cases where intellectual disability is not suspected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22837/26]
View answer121. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth how the revised assessment of needs framework ensures that children with uneven developmental profiles, including those who may be gifted or twice-exceptional (that is, children with both high ability and additional needs such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia), will be appropriately identified within the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22839/26]
View answer122. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted any impact assessment on how the revised assessment of needs model may affect the identification of children whose needs are masked by high cognitive ability or compensatory functioning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22841/26]
View answer125. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration has been given to the potential for increased reliance on private assessments arising from any restriction in public access to cognitive assessment, and the implications this may have for equity of access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22847/26]
View answer126. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the training or guidance that is being provided to assessment officers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that complex presentations, including masking and twice-exceptionality, are recognised under the revised assessment of needs model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22849/26]
View answer127. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to review the implementation of the revised assessment of need framework to ensure that no cohort of children is excluded from identification due to the streamlining of assessment processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22851/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 121, 122, 125, 126 and 127 together.
The Assessment of Need process is under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Questions in relation to the revised Assessment of Need process should be directed to colleagues in that Department.
