Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
881. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures in place to reduce waiting lists for disability assessments in Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14538/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile clinical assessments take place regularly under primary care, through CDNTs and other health providers, an Assessment of Need is a specific assessment process carried out by the HSE under the Disability Act 2005, to determine whether a child has a disability as defined within the Act. If it is determined that they do, assessments are arranged to identify the health and education needs of the person with a disability and the services required to meet those needs.
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, and that an Assessment of Need report does not result in quicker access to services.
However, demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. This growing demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to meet it.
This government recognises that delays faced by for families in accessing Assessments of Need are unacceptable. There has been intensive work by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE to address this, and continued improvement in the number of completed Assessment of Need reports.
In the Laois/Offaly Local Health Office area, there was a 54% increase in the number of completed AON reports from 2024 (152 reports) to 2025 (234 reports). This improvement is also reflected in the national figures with over 5,900 reports were completed in 2025 – a 43% increase compared to 2024 and an 85% increase compared to 2023.
This progress 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. 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 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 of Need report.
These changes include amendments to Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need. The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill which outlines these proposed changes was approved by Government on 9 December and has been published on the Department’s website along with an FAQ document. The Bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.
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.
Other changes to support an improved Assessment of Need process include:
• The development of statutory guidelines to ensure that Assessments of Need focus on identifying a child’s needs, engaging in more intensive assessments only where required to identify need. This should help reduce delays and allow therapists to spend more time delivering services.
• A continued focus by the HSE on the training and development of Assessment Officers.
• The establishment by the HSE of eleven new teams, initially, to support HSE assessment processes, including Assessments of Need. Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and an administrator, providing clinical guidance throughout the process.
Work has also continued on a number of initiatives to address challenges within the broader system and improve access to and provision of services.
• The HSE will progress implementation of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol in early 2026. The Protocol will provide a standardised assessment process across primary care, mental health and disability services and will be the preferred assessment route for autism.
• The HSE is introducing a Single Point of Access system, which will make it easier for families to be referred to the right service - whether that is a Children's Disability Network Team, Primary Care, or the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. This aims to streamline referrals and reduce duplication, so children do not end up on multiple waiting lists.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government.
