Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Disability Act 2005 provides for an assessment of the needs of eligible applicants occasioned by their disability. The assessment of need must commence within three months of receipt of a completed application and must be completed within a further three months. The HSE works towards completing the assessment within three months unless there are exceptional circumstances. Applicants are further entitled to a Service Statement which sets out the services that will be provided to meet the needs identified in the Assessment Report. The Service Statement should be issued within one month of the completion of the Assessment of Need Report.

The position of Assessment Officer for the Dublin South West area became vacant in March 2016 and HSE is working to recruit to this post. In the absence of the Assessment Officer, systems have been put in place to process applications and provide for assessments to be conducted. Individual assessment reports are being provided directly to parents/guardians however the final Assessment Report cannot be completed in the absence of this warranted officer.

The HSE is also in the process of recruiting a Liaison Officer as provided for by section 11 of the 2005 Act. The Assessment Reports cannot be progressed and Service Statements cannot be issued in accordance with the Disability Act until the Liaison Officer has been appointed.

In the absence of the Liaison Officer the Dublin South West Disability service is identifying appropriate services and issuing services statements when directed to do so by the statutory Disability Complaints Officer (Disability Act 2005).

The HSE Dublin South West office receives an average of 45 applications per month. The waiting list in Dublin South West for an Assessment of Need is currently at 218 and the number of clients awaiting Services Statements is 478.

Once the vacant posts are filled it is estimated that it will take 18 months to clear the current backlog of cases. The fact that a child is waiting for their assessment to be completed should not be interpreted as meaning that the child is necessarily waiting for necessary, identified interventions.