Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
327. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the waiting times for an assessment of need in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27634/26]
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.
Under the Disability Act, an Assessment of Need is an assessment process carried out by the HSE where a person is of the opinion that he/she may have a disability, for anyone born after 1st June 2002. It first establishes whether the person has a disability (as defined within the Act). It then identifies 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 HSE Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
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. Unfortunately, this demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to respond with the result that there were 20,209 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of 2025, according to the most recently available HSE data.
On a positive note, there has been continued improvement in the number of completed assessment of need reports with 5,939 reports completed in 2025. This is a 43% increase nationally compared to the number completed in 2024. 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).
The HSE provides Assessment of Need data on a quarterly basis, the most recent of which is for Q4 2025. The HSE does not provide data on a county basis, however data is provided by Regional Health Area (RHA) and Local Health Office (LHO). Data is not yet available for 2026 but data to the end of 2025 has been provided for Laois/Offaly LHO as follows:
|
Laois/Offaly LHO |
Total overdue by end of 2025 |
Overdue by < 1 month |
Overdue by 1-3 months |
Overdue by > 3 months |
|
AON applications overdue for completion at year end |
822 |
44 |
113 |
665 |
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. 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 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.
