16,593 children are overdue for assessment of need
16,593 children are overdue for assessment of need - The Labour Party
Labour spokesperson on Disability Senator Laura Harmon has expressed her concern at the enormous and growing waiting lists for assessment of needs at the end of Q2 of 2025.
In response to Parliamentary Questions submitted by the Labour Party, the HSE has revealed that only 2,918 assessments of needs had been completed at the end of Q2.
Senator Harmon said:
“People with disabilities are being left behind and failed by this Government. The increase in waiting times for assessment of needs signals a Government that is ignoring the plight of children and their families nationwide. During the General Election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil committed time and again to dealing with this crisis and to ensure better outcomes, yet we are seeing an explosion in those waiting to be assessed.
“This Government is failing to properly staff and equip the service to meet the demand. Just under 3,000 children received an assessment of need by the end of Q2 of this year. It’s deeply behind where we should be.
“At this stage, the Government is failing to uphold the Disability Act which states an Assessment of Need must be completed within 6 months. The response from the HSE reveals to me that the average wait duration of the assessment process is now up to 24.93 months. It’s utterly outrageous.
“The families involved are under so much pressure trying to get the best possible outcome for their child. Parents are left to fend for themselves, forced to wait months on end for diagnoses then even longer for assessment. The system simply isn’t working.
“As schools return this week, I implore this Government to stop the Budget kite flying and put a focus on giving every child the best start in life. A child without the right diagnosis or assessment is left without proper classroom support. That means falling behind in school, struggling in unsuitable classrooms, and missing out on key years of their education. The damage doesn’t end there – these setbacks have knock-on effects on a child’s confidence, their development and their ability to succeed in later life.
“I will continue to campaign for vastly reduced waiting times, investment in services and staffing and continue to be a strong voice on the Oireachtas Disability Matters Committee.”