Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
945. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review the process of assessments for autism in children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34288/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is understood that the Deputy is referring to the provision of autism assessments within the public healthcare system and the availability of autism assessments under the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative.
It is important to emphasise that an application for an Assessment of Need is not required to access an autism assessment. Families can seek a referral for an autism assessment through a healthcare provider such as their GP, local Primary Care team, a healthcare professional or, for children with complex needs, the local Children’s Disability Network Team. It is acknowledged that there can be long waiting times for families seeking autism assessments within the public system.
However, the HSE will launch an Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol shortly. The Protocol will provide a faster and more specialised route for autism assessment across primary care, mental health and disability services. It will be the preferred assessment route for autism, and it is expected that using the protocol will enable teams to assess more people in a shorter timeframe.
It is intended that these assessments will explain and help people to understand the causes of their difficulties. It will also provide a diagnosis and identify the services and supports required.
New teams, known as In-Reach teams, are being established to support existing community teams using the protocol, providing additional resources, and allowing faster assessment.
The Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative was introduced by Government in May 2024 to support the delivery of Assessments of Need to those families who have been waiting longest. Under the Targeted Waitlist Initiative, the HSE procures clinical assessments from approved private providers. These providers are reimbursed by the HSE for clinical assessments undertaken as part of the Assessment of Need process. By the end of 2025, over 7,700 clinical assessments had been commissioned from private providers since the Initiative started in June 2024.
Funding of €20 million is being provided this year to continue the Initiative, enabling the delivery of approximately 6,000 clinical assessments with a specific focus on autism assessments. The HSE recently established a new Panel of service providers to deliver these autism diagnostic assessments for children and adolescents under the Initiative. The Panel was established on foot of a tender process by the HSE , which was advertised on the eTenders portal and the Official Journal of the European Union, with tender responses assessed against key criteria. The Panel, which includes 29 providers, became operational in February 2026 and will be in place for one year, with an option to extend for a further year. These autism assessments will inform the Assessment of Need process. It should be noted that funding is not provided to individuals or families who wish to procure a private clinical assessment themselves.
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 they 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). If it is determined that they do, the process then identifies the health and education needs of the person with a disability, and the services required to meet those needs.
Children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
In December 2025, Government announced a series of reforms 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 and operational reforms 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 - assets.gov.ie/static/documents/2fc0c49e/20260324-FAQ-Version-1.1-CLEARED.pdf - has also been published, providing information on the Assessment of Need process and the proposed changes for parents and any other interested stakeholders.
