Fine Gael TD Willie Aird has warned that families in Laois and Offaly are facing unacceptable delays in securing an Assessment of Need for their children, with hundreds waiting almost two years before they can access supports.
Deputy Aird told the Dáil he had received confirmation from the HSE in early December which confirmed that 870 children in the Laois Offaly area were waiting to be reviewed by an assessment officer to determine their eligibility for the process.
He said the average waiting time for those deemed eligible was now 21 months.
He said the HSE had not provided detailed figures, but the scale of the backlog was clear.
Families were in distress, he said, and children were being denied early intervention that could make a significant difference to their development.
He also noted that 95% of assessments had been outsourced to private providers but waiting times had not improved.
“The current situation is not sustainable, and urgent action is needed to ensure these children are not left behind,” he said.
Responding, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Jack Chambers said many families across the State were waiting too long for an assessment.
He said demand had doubled since 2020, with 9,570 applications received in the first nine months of this year.
The Minister said disability services had received increased funding this year and again in Budget 2026, which includes a 20 per cent rise in disability spending to support recruitment and expand assessment capacity.
He said the assessment process itself needed reform to make it more efficient and that access to therapies in communities must also improve.
He said the waiting list initiative and planned legislative changes led by Ministers Norma Foley and Anne Rabbitte would help speed up assessments and improve access to interventions.
“Our aim is to uphold the rights of young people so that the assessment process is quicker and they receive the therapy and intervention they need,” he said.
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