An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-09
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Jack Chambers (FF), Dublin West

First, I want to acknowledge Cara Darmody, who is continuing her campaign outside the gates of Leinster House. I know Cara has met with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and they have had good and positive engagement. In terms of assessment of need, the demand for assessments of need has more than doubled since 2020 and there has been a 57% year-on-year increase in the assessments of need that have been completed within the HSE. We are also using every available mechanism to reduce the backlog as quickly as possible. There have been 5,000 assessments procured privately through the waiting list initiative. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is advancing legislative change to reform the assessment of need without weakening the rights of children, establishing a dedicated panel to provide autism diagnostic assessments, removing the requirement for an assessment of need for accessing non-health supports including special classes and school places, and the roll-out of the education therapy service. In the agreement for budget 2026 the significant increase in disability funding of 20% will make a significant difference in ramping up recruitment in terms of improving assessment of need across the system in addition to the reforms the Minister is progressing.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-09