I propose to take Questions Nos. 806 and 807 together.
The Government recognises that there are unacceptable delays in accessing Assessments of Need. The Department and the HSE are committed to addressing these delays.
The HSE is responsible for the delivery of the Assessment of Need process, with HSE Assessment Officers arranging and producing Assessment of Need reports for children and their families.
It is important to note that Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) and the Assessment of Need process operate independently of one another. An Assessment of Need report is not required to access CDNT supports. Children’s Disability Network Teams provide supports and services to children with complex needs, some of whom may have been, or are involved in, the Assessment of Need process. However, many children who receive services from CDNTs do not have or need an AON report.
While CDNT clinicians may be involved in undertaking clinical assessments as part of the Assessment of Need process, multidisciplinary assessments may also be requested from services such as Primary Care, Mental Health Services or a pre-approved private provider.
The HSE does not provide a breakdown of the number of children awaiting an Assessment of Need report by CDNT. The following is the most recent data for the Local Health Offices in Cork for reports that are overdue for completion as of Q1 2026:
- 1,894 applications overdue for completion
- 164 of these were overdue for less a month
- 206 were overdue for between 1 and 3 month and
- The remainder, 1,454, were overdue for over 3 months.
This number reflects the high number of applications for an Assessment of Need in these LHOs, with 552 applications received in Q1 2026, an increase from the 504 received in the same quarter in 2025. In terms of full-year data, 2,056 applications were received in 2025 and 1,568 in 2024.
The following is the requested data for the Local Health Offices in Cork for reports that were completed within the statutory timeframe and that are overdue for completion for year 2023 till end of year 2025, the most recently available full-year data provided by the HSE:
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Cork LHOs
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2023
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2024
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2025
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AON reports completed within the statutory timeframe at year end
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86
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90
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67
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AON applications overdue for completion at year end
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742
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1,106
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1,751
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The most recent data for Q1 2026 reports that, of the 256 applications completed so far this year, 11 were completed within the statutory timeframe.
More positively, there has been continued improvement in the number of completed assessment of need reports with 5,939 reports completed nationally in 2025. This is a 43% increase nationally compared to the number completed in 2024. However, there is regional variation and this improvement is not reflected in all areas, as the data provided above for Cork shows.
In December 2025 Government announced a series of improvements to the Assessment of Need process which will make the process more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment. This reform includes legislative reform and operational improvements to support the efficiency and effectiveness of the Assessment of Need process.
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 General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. The Joint Committee on Disability Matters has published its report, following pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, and the Department is considering its recommendations. An FAQ document has 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 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 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.