Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the means by which, under the national human rights strategy for disabled people, the delivery of therapies and assessments will be achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50191/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to ask the Minister the means by which, under the national human rights strategy for disabled people, the delivery of therapies and assessments will be achieved. When I first put in this question, I actually asked a bit more that obviously related to other Departments, such as the cost of disability that relates to the Department of Social Protection, or issues that relate to transport or housing. We all know the issues that exist with regard to therapies and assessments. While I have received some figures back, I am seeking the latest update on the state of play so that we can actually offer a framework that provides the supports required by children.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Ó Murchú. I recognise the other elements he had in place. In the context of the national human rights strategy for disabled people, there is a recognition that a number of Departments have different roles. This is and must be regarded as a whole-of-government approach. In the consultation process, one of the most telling exchanges that came from a disabled person referenced the fact that no one’s life is divided conveniently into Government Departments. I thought that was a great learning process for anyone to appreciate that. There is an apportioning of responsibility, however. I appreciate that the other Departments are going to take up some of the issues the Deputy has raised.

As the Deputy will be aware and appreciate, engagement around the strategy was launched on 3 September. This is a landmark strategy that will advance the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and provide a framework for whole-of-government action on disability issues. It contains a significant commitment to the delivery of a quality, accessible, equitable and timely service for all disabled children and their families, based on their need.

The key vehicle for change and improvement is the roadmap for service improvement for disability services for children and young people. The implementation of this roadmap is well under way and will continue until 2026. The roadmap contains an important set of actions that, collectively, will enhance children’s disability services in Ireland. They include significant measures to integrate and improve access to services, expand the workforce and advance better communication and engagement with families.

HSE data from April show there has been a nationwide increase of 26% in children disability network team staffing levels since October 2023. Most significantly, the national vacancy rate of CDNTs has reduced from 29% in 2023 to 18% in 2025, a reduction of 11 percentage points. It is still too high, however. We need to say that. I am very pleased to see this progress, but I know we absolutely need to do more. That is why we will continue to focus on increasing CDNT staffing numbers, reducing the vacancy rate even further and ensuring that more children with complex needs and their families receive the support they need.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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No one is going to have a difficulty with the pillars or the strategy, but we have had many well written strategies before. This will come down to the roadmap and the actual action plan. We will be waiting until approximately November or December for that. Can the Minister provide me with that timeline? It will come down to the specific points in that.

If we deal with the CDNTs and replies to my parliamentary questions, in April, there were 445.3 positions unfilled in the CDNTs. At the end of June, we were talking about 16,593 assessments of need, AONs, basically awaiting or overdue completion. We are talking about an end-of-year figure of 23,903. The figure at the end of July for those waiting on first contact with a CDNT was 10,714. Obviously, none of these figures work. Even in the area of in-school therapies, we are not where we need to be.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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When it comes to the CDNTs, I would be the first to say that a lot more work needs to be done in this regard. If we wish to look on the positive side, we have seen a nationwide increase of 26% in CDNT staffing levels since October 2023. The national vacancy rate has also reduced from 29% to 18%, but it needs to reduce a lot more.

With regard to AONs, I absolutely acknowledge there is an increasing demand for AONs every single day, which has led to a growing waiting list. However, progress has been made in the past year, with a noted improvement in the number of assessments completed in 2024, up 30% compared with 2023. The trend is continuing, with a 58% increase in completions in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. When it comes to AONs, 58% were completed at the start of this year, which represents an increase compared with last year. That is not to say there is not an ongoing waiting list. The waiting list is quite significant.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We agree that, obviously, the figures I have are not acceptable. If I am wrong or those figures have been updated, I would appreciate if I could have them, whether that is now or later in writing, because we need to know the depth of the issue.

My fear is if those 445.3 positions were filled, the CDNTs would still not be able to deliver on the basis of the need.

Cara Darmody has been a strong advocate for the position that, whatever legislative changes the Government proposes, the right to an assessment of need within six months cannot be rowed back from. I understand at this point in time there is an absolute breach of the law by Government on this but we cannot move away from that right, as exists. I ask for an update on the legislative changes the Government proposes around this.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge everybody in this field, the professionals on the front line and the families enduring what they are enduring. I do not forget Cara Darmody's great advocacy work. I want to acknowledge the additional funding in place - the €10 million that is very much close to Cara's heart - to ensure private assessments could be delivered under the AON process. Under that initiative, the HSE provides for the procurement of clinical assessments from private providers and almost 5,000 such assessments have been commissioned under the programme. That is quite significant. I know it is something Cara is quite proud of and she seeks to do more in relation to it.

On the right to an AON, the six months will not be interfered with, nor will the right to seek an AON. On any legislative changes, it is our ambition that they will be brought to the House during this term.