Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2026
462. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need in Kerry in each of the years 2020 to date; the number overdue for completion; the number completed with a service statement, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54658/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of an effective, efficient Assessment of Need system is a priority for Government. Government further recognises that there are unacceptable delays in accessing Assessments of Need at present.
It is important at the outset to reiterate that children do not require an Assessment of Need report to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams, Mental Health Services, or education supports. 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.
While the HSE does not provide Assessment of Need data by county, data is provided by Regional Health Area and Local Health Office (LHO) area. The most recent data provided by the HSE for Kerry LHO is for Q1 2026. The data the Deputy has requested is provided in the following table:
|
Year |
No. of AON applications received |
No. of AON applications overdue for completion |
No. of service statements completed |
No. of AON completed reports |
|
2020 |
78 |
96 |
41 |
35 |
|
2021 |
99 |
77 |
45 |
166 |
|
2022 |
79 |
47 |
17 |
123 |
|
2023 |
93 |
38 |
0 |
94 |
|
2024 |
148 |
57 |
0 |
96 |
|
2025 |
209 |
100 |
0 |
91 |
|
Q1 2026 |
44 |
110 |
0 |
26 |
The HSE reports that 1,528 Assessment of Need reports were completed in the first 3 months of this year compared to 1,402 in Q1 2025. This improvement is welcome and must continue.
In December 2025, Government announced a series of improvements to the Assessment of Need process. This includes legislative and operational changes which will make it more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment.
Importantly, the proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child. They will also not alter the six-month timeline in the Act.
The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. The Joint Committee on Disability Matters has published its report, following pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, and the Department is considering its recommendations. An []www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/assessment-of-needs-process-proposed-changes/ has also been published, providing information on Assessment of Need and the proposed changes.
Legislation is only one 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 of Need reports. This includes the establishment of working groups to address learning and development needs and to develop statutory guidelines.
The HSE continues to progress 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. The model will be rolled out this year and will make it easier for families to be referred to the right service as early as possible, 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 which was launched in May 2026. This will provide for a consistent approach to autism assessments across key HSE services including Primary Care, CAMHs and Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs). This is significant as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was noted as the category of disability in 45% of all completed assessments of need in the first nine months of 2025. The provision of a clear pathway to an autism assessment may reduce reliance by parents on the Assessment of Need process as a means of acquiring a diagnosis. Implementation of the Protocol is ongoing and is being led by the HSE.
• The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including Assessment of Need, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.
It is intended that these improvements to the AON process will result in a noticeable reduction in waiting times for children and their families across the country.
