Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government recognises that waiting lists for assessments of need are far too long and have a significant impact on the needs of children and their families. It should be noted that children who require services from a children's disability network team, CDNT, do not require a diagnosis or a statutory assessment of need, AON. However, it is a fact that demand for AONs has increased significantly in recent years, which is a reflection of both the increase in population and of families exploring all options for accessing services for their children. The HSE advises that in 2024 it received 10,690 AON applications, which is more than double the 4,700 applications received in 2020. The most recent data from the HSE shows that 14,221 AONs were overdue for completion at the end of December 2024.

Work is ongoing by the HSE to increase the capacity of CDNTs to deliver therapy interventions to children and produce assessments of need. It is notable that the HSE reports a 30% increase in the number of AONs completed in 2024 compared with 2023. This has been achieved by a number of measures, including the waiting list initiative agreed by the Government last May. It targets those families waiting the longest for assessments of needs, with funding provided for the procurement of assessments from approved private providers. The HSE advises that more than 2,400 assessments of needs were commissioned from private providers over seven months in 2024. This initiative will continue in 2025 with €10 million in funding allocated to deliver some 2,850 assessments of needs and allow for additional capacity in the assessment teams in the form of assessment and liaison officers. In 2023, on foot of a direct request from the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, the HSE also developed AON administrative hubs in community healthcare areas. I will leave it there for the moment.

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