Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)

It is nothing short of a national scandal that over 15,000 children are still waiting for an assessment of need. I know these numbers have been read out several times today but I want to keep saying it because it is an absolute scandal that we are saying there are 15,000 children waiting for an assessment of need and that over 90% of those assessments are not being completed within the legally mandated six-month timeframe.

In Dublin South Central at the end of 2024 there were 1,652 children waiting over three months for an assessment of need. From speaking to parents in my constituency, I know the level of frustration, heartbreak and need there. What are we doing as a country if we cannot get an assessment of need for a child when they most need it? When a child receives an assessment of need, where are the services thereafter? The Disability Act 2005 clearly sets out that children should have an assessment of need starting within three months of application and concluding within six, yet, with this Government in its second term, it is still not working. There are still missed targets, persistent failure and no meaningful accountability. Why is it necessary for a child to sit outside this Dáil for 50 hours to bring shame on what is happening here? No family should have to fight the fight they are fighting. They have enough to deal with in their own daily lives. They should be getting their basic rights.

The Government is pointing to funding and pilot schemes. I do not know about anyone else here but I am sick of hearing about pilot schemes. We should know what we are doing at this stage. We are not a fledgling. We did not just come about yesterday. We have been a State for so long. Why can we not get this right? This number of children is not a surprise. They were born. They have needs. They do not just magic down from the clouds and land here and have assessments of need that must be done. We need forward planning. We need staff who are trained. For the third time in the Chamber I make the point that we have heard so often that we will have more college places next year for therapists but I have not heard that it is definitely happening and I really want to know if it is. If these children get an assessment of need and they get the therapies, we still do not have enough therapists. Will I get an answer next week on whether there are enough people training in third-level institutions?

I commend all the families throughout the country who are bringing the attention of politicians to this issue. Everyone in the Dáil and Seanad hears about this all the time. Let us keep fighting on their behalf. It is just not good enough.

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