Assessment of Needs in desperate need for thoughtful reform – not policy by press release
Assessment of Needs in desperate need for thoughtful reform - not policy by press release - The Labour Party
Labour’s children’s spokesperson Mark Wall TD has called out the Government for governing by press release rather than addressing the core issues of recruitment and retention for assessment of needs services.
Speaking in advance of a Dáil motion on assessments of needs this evening, Deputy Wall said it is a national disgrace that more than 18,000 children are overdue an assessment of need, with the HSE projecting that the number of children waiting could grow to over 25,000 by the end of the year.
Deputy Wall said:
“This Government has rushed out a press release today promising more “targeted reforms” on assessment of needs. Without the structures in place, this will not be worth the paper it’s written on. With over 18,000 children overdue an assessment of need, it is abundantly obvious that the only truthful thing this Government has said on AONs is that the process is “no longer fit for purpose”.
“Unfortunately, Minister Naughton made these comments without any alternative to reform the process. This followed an earlier statement this year from the HSE who noted that it “hasn’t a hope” in complying with the assessment of need law.
“The crux of the issue is even if a child does get an assessment of need, we simply do not have the staffing required to provide the vital therapies that these children need. In Kildare alone, almost 1,500 children are waiting for an occupational therapy appointment, while close to 1,600 children are waiting on speech and language therapy.
“It’s devastating for any family to know that they face a battle with the State simply to get their child the support that they need. Every day they have to fight for basic services for their child. If it’s not an assessment, it’s the therapies, if it’s not the therapies, then it’s the school place or a bus place. These families have to fight tooth and nail for something that is an automatic right for every other child in this State, but for those with additional needs, it is always a fight.
“The Labour Party is calling on Fine Gael and Fianna Fáíl to give a clear commitment to families on when this Government intends to comply with their legal obligations to the Assessment of Need process under the Disability Act 2005.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil must deliver a clear and immediate action plan that gets to grips with the growing waiting lists. The workforce challenges must be addressed, the vital services like speech and language, occupational therapy, and physio must be properly resourced, and children must have access to special schools and school places in their local area.
“Lastly, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil must give certainty to families on when their child can access an assessment, and the services they need, so that the constant battling can finally stop.”