Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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108. To ask the Minister for Health the supports that are in place for a parent and their child who is waiting for an assessment of needs; the average waiting time for assessment of needs by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7646/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As per the Disability Act, 2005 the aim of Assessment of Need (AON) is to identify whether a person has a disability, to identify needs arising from that disability as well as what services are required to meet those needs.

It is important to note that children do not require an AON to access health services.

6,755 applications for AON were received in 2022. This represents the highest number of applications received since Part 2 of the Act commenced in June 2007. Of these, the HSE advise that (at end 2022) 4,613 applications are overdue for completion. The numbers for these overdue applications per Community Health Organisation are:

CHO1 - 191

CHO2 - 77

CHO3 - 260

CHO4 - 665

CHO5 - 208

CHO6 - 271

CHO7 – 1,321

CHO8 - 353

CHO9 – 1,267

The current delays in accessing AON relate directly to vacancies across the CDNT network. This issue is being actively progressed by the HSE to maximise funding allocated in recent years for over 600 additional posts.

The HSE has also been allocated funding in Budget 2023 to facilitate additional assessments through a suite of measures including;

- Establishment of dedicated AON assessment teams

- Private procurement & overtime initiatives for staff.

- Recruitment of administrative resources to free up therapists to assist with AONs.

Notwithstanding these challenges, significant work is ongoing, with approximately 35,000 children currently accessing services and supports provided by Children’s Teams.