Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
531. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the latest figures for the number of children currently awaiting an assessment of need, per RHA, in tabular form, at the end of January 2026. [13727/26]
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.
The impact of this increased demand has contributed to there being just over 20,200 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of 2025, according to the most recently available HSE data.
This number reflects the significant increase in applications for Assessment of Need, 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.
Data is not yet available for 2026 but data to the end of 2025 has been provided by the HSE for the six Regional Health Areas (RHA) and is as follows:
|
RHA |
Total Overdue end 2025 |
|
HSE Dublin and North East |
6,195 |
|
HSE Dublin and Midlands |
7,171 |
|
HSE Dublin and South East |
3,041 |
|
HSE South West |
1,851 |
|
HSE Mid West |
556 |
|
HSE West and North west |
1,395 |
|
Total |
20,209 |
Addressing the backlog and delays in the Assessment of Need system is a priority for Government and 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.
Budget 2026 provides €20 million to continue the Initiative, enabling the delivery of approximately 6,000 clinical assessments with a specific focus on autism assessments. The HSE has established a new panel of service providers to these assessments for children and adolescents under the Targeted Waitlist Initiative.
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 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.
