More than 20,000 children overdue assessment of needs appointment
The number of children who are overdue an assessment of needs appointment has hit more than 20,000.Those waiting for more than six months for an assessment has risen to 20,209, 42% more than a year previous when there were 14,221.The figures, provided to Labour TD Ged Nash, also show there has been a 12% rise in the number of overdue assessments since the end of September, when the figure stood at 18,097.An assessment of needs identifies health and educational needs arising for children who have a disability.Under the Disability Act 2025, the HSE is required to start an assessment within three months and complete it within a further three months. Last May, Taoiseach Micheál Martin admitted in the Dáil that the HSE was “not in a position to fulfil the law” and complete assessment of needs applications within the statutory six-month timeframe.In response to Mr Nash, disabilities minister Norma Foley said that “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”. “The impact of this increased demand has contributed to there being 20,209 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of 2025, according to the most recently available HSE data,” she said.Ms Foley said 5,939 reports were completed in 2025, a 45% increase compared to the previous year.In December, Ms Foley announced an overhaul of the system, including new legislation to speed up how many hours an assessment takes.Labour’s spokesperson on disability Mark Wall said the reforms also include 11 new teams made up of different therapists. However, he argued that the Government is “already struggling to recruit psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists”.“Every day is a fight for these families,” he said. “They have to fight every day for basic services for their child. If it is not the assessment, it’s fighting for therapies. If it’s not the therapies, it’s fighting for a school place."
