Disabilities Assessments
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-23
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Emer Higgins (FG), Dublin Mid-West

The Deputy is absolutely correct. The delivery of an effective and efficient assessment of need system is a priority for the Government. The Department and the HSE are working intensively to address delays in the provision of assessments of need to children and their families. It is important to reiterate that children do not require an assessment of need report to access health services, such as primary care, children’s disability network teams or mental health services, or education supports.
Demand for assessments of need has increased significantly in recent years. This reflects both the increase in population and the increase in the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. Over 13,000 applications for assessments of need were received last year, with over 3,800 applications made in the first three months of this year. This demand is absolutely outpacing the capacity of the system to respond. As a result, 21,782 applications were overdue for completion at the end of March. I gave the Deputy that figure earlier. To break that figure down by regional health area: the figure in HSE Dublin and North East is 6,608; in HSE Dublin and Midlands, it is 7,772; in HSE Dublin and South East, it is 3,204; in HSE South West, it is 2,004; in HSE Mid West, it is 595; and in HSE West and North West, it is 1,599. These numbers are really stark. It is really important to remember that behind every number is a child or young person. It is not acceptable that children and families have to wait so long for assessment of need applications to be processed.
This Government, the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I have made it very clear that change is needed. There has been progress in the past two years with a noticeable increase in the number of completed applications. Over 5,900 assessment of need reports were completed in 2025, which is a 43% increase on the previous year and an 85% increase on the year previous to that. This progress has been and will continue to be assisted by the assessment of need targeted waitlist initiative, which funds the procurement of clinical assessments from private providers to inform the assessment of need process.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:06+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-23