Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Frankie is nearly four years old. A year ago, as he was non-verbal, he was referred for an assessment of need to the HSE on 3 February 2022. On 4 February 2022, he got a letter saying his assessment would be on or before 4 May. His parents rang the HSE at the end of May because he still had not got his assessment and were told it would be two years before he got an assessment. Nearly a year later, there are no services for this child, who remains non-verbal. His parents made an official complaint via a solicitor, which was upheld. The HSE still did not carry out the assessment. The parents then went to court to compel a report, which they finally received, but it was not done to a high standard and has to be done again. A year later, the child still has no services or supports. This is just one child, but this is repeated across the country. A year on, his life chances are being massively impacted by this failure. What can be done about it?

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