Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
135. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for assessment of needs in Dublin Mid-West; the steps being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13366/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises that there are unacceptable delays in accessing Assessments of Need. The Department and the HSE are committed to addressing these delays.
It is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services. 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.
Although data is not available for Dublin Mid-West specifically, it is provided at Regional Health Area (RHA) level, including for the Dublin and Midlands RHA. Most recent HSE data shows that there was an increase of 20% in the number of Assessment of Need applications received in the Dublin and Midlands RHA in 2025 compared to 2024. This reflects the significant growth in applications for Assessment of Need nationally which 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 and is resulting in a growing number of applications overdue for completion (that is not completed within the statutory timeframe of 6 months from the receipt of the AON application). In the Dublin and Midlands RHA, 7,171 applications were overdue for completion at the end of 2025, according to the most recent HSE data.
Nevertheless, there has been a notable improvement in number of completed AON reports in the Dublin and Midlands RHA, increasing by over 90% from 498 to 2024 to 970 in 2025. This reflects the increased rate of completions nationally which rose by 43% to over 5,900 in 2025.
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.
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 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 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.
