Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise again a very serious matter that I and other Members have raised previously. It relates to the procedure and process for the assessment of needs of children with disabilities. The Department of Health and the HSE are breaching the law on a daily basis in this regard. The Minister is aware that, under the Disability Act 2005, the assessment of needs must begin no later than three months after the receipt of a completed application. I am regularly contacted by parents who find that there is a huge backlog in the assessment of needs for children with disabilities. I have one such case before me where the parent was told that the application was received on 1 June 2017. The parent was advised that the scheduled date of commencement was to be on or before 1 September 2017. The parent then received correspondence confirming that the application was received on 1 June and that the child's case was discussed at a forum meeting on 20 June 2017. The letter states, " ... [the case] was discussed at the Disability Services monthly administration meeting and his scheduled date for assessment is January 2019 (based on current resources)." This means that the assessment will be completed 18 months after the initial application. This correspondence cites increased referral rates and lack of resources as the reasons for this. The Minister must remember that an early assessment of needs for these children is a legal obligation on the HSE, on the Department of Health and on the Minister himself. The assessment of needs is to start within three months of application and is to be completed within three months of starting the assessment. The Minister is well aware that these children are diagnosed as early as possible in order to ensure that proper services are available to them.

I have received further correspondence from another parent which states:

As you are aware there is already a massive backlog of referrals for AON. The Assessments of Need are not being carried out in accordance with legislation and regulations under the Disability Act 2005. Assessments of need are supposed to be conducted in a consistent manner nationally and procedures are supposed to be in place to ensure continuity of the AON process, yet again this is not happening.

Will the Minister indicate when his Department and the HSE will stop breaching the law and ensure that the assessment of needs process relating to children with disabilities is completed in accordance with the Disability Act 2005?

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