Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-24
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Mark Ward (SF), Dublin Mid-West

We know that early intervention is key in a child's development. There is no earlier intervention than a newborn child receiving a developmental assessment from a public health nurse. According to the HSE, a child should receive a developmental assessment at the first visit, at three months, at nine to 11 months, at 21 to 24 months and at 46 to 48 months. In Dublin Mid-West, we have a postcode lottery of access to public health nurses. Only two health centres out of the 12 in Dublin Mid-West are able to offer the full range of developmental checks to newborns and infants. Babies from Adamstown, Deansrath, Palmerstown and Rowlagh are only getting first visits due to a shortage of public health nurses, prompting concerns that there could be a delay in diagnosing certain conditions. Infants from Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart, Citywest, Brittas and Fettercairn are not getting developmental checks after three months.
This is not the first time I have raised this issue with the Taoiseach and other Members in this House. When will all the babies and infants in Dublin Mid-West receive these vital developmental checks?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-24