Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of assessment of needs given that 500 people are currently waiting in the mid-west region, 68 of whom are in County Clare. I was contacted by a single parent who was told that her son, Finn, will be waiting at least three years for his assessment of needs. Having been in contact with a private practitioner, she has had to get a loan of €1,600 just for an autism assessment. If any further assessments need to be done after that, she will have to pay an additional €1,600. The response to a parliamentary question indicated that once-off funding was made available. I note the word "was" was used - as in the past tense. Is that funding now gone? How many were able to secure an assessment of needs with that funding? There are still two vacancies on the children's disability network team, CDNT, that have not been filled. Is there is any progress there?

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