Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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731. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if assistance will be provided on an issue (details supplied). [8162/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) which provides targeted support so that children with additional needs may access mainstream early learning and childcare settings. The Access and Inclusion Model requires no diagnosis to provide this support.

Applications for the Access and Inclusion Model targeted supports are made by the pre-school provider in collaboration with the parents. The targeted supports consist of specialist advice and support, provision of specialist equipment or appliances, minor building alterations, therapeutic intervention or extra assistance in the pre-school room. The Access and Inclusion Model is supported by Better Start who will provide advice and guidance to support the needs of the child concerned.

These supports combined with a service open to providing for the child can support an appropriate placement.

Whilst early learning and childcare providers are private entities and set their own admissions policies , the querent's local City and County Childcare Committees can provide assistance in finding childcare places and can address any issues of concern for that service.

I would advise the individual to reach out to Dublin City Childcare Committee who can be contacted by phone at 01 8733696 or through email at info@dccc.ie. The City Childcare Committee can support securing a placement if available and supporting the service in understanding the supports available to ensure the child's access and meaningful participation in early learning and childcare

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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732. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will outline her plans to assist in improving performance in relation the statutory timeline under which assessments of needs must be completed as outlined in the Disability Act 2005; and if she has met with officials in the HSE in this regard. [8146/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Assessment of Need process, as set out in Part 2 of the Disability Act, aims to identify whether a person has a disability, the nature and extent of the disability, any health and education needs arising from that disability, as well as what services are required to meet those needs.

The Disability Act outlines the statutory timelines under which Assessments of Need under the Act must be completed. While the HSE endeavours to meet its legislative obligations under the Act, it has struggled to achieve compliance with these timeframes.

The demand for AONs has increased significantly in recent years. It is a reflection of both the increase in population and of families exploring all options for accessing services for their child. The HSE advise that, in 2024, they received 10,690 AON applications, which is more than double the circa 4,700 applications received in 2020.

Under the 2025 Programme for Government – “Securing Ireland’s Future”, this Government is committed to renewing efforts in order to enhance services to better support the needs of children with disabilities in Ireland.

The Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Roadmap 2023 – 2026, launched by the HSE in October 2023 focuses on the ongoing development of Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) services to meet current and growing demand.

Under the new Programme for Government we will:

Continue to increase the number of places in higher education in order to expand the pipeline of future therapists;

Introduce specific recruitment and retention incentives for therapists to work on CDNTs, along with a CDNT sponsorship programme with bursaries for fourth year and postgrad students linked to acceptance of (conditional) job offers;

Continue to expand placements on CDNTs;

Recruit more therapists into primary care, in order to meet the needs of the vast majority of children with disabilities that avail of mainstream services rather than specialist (CDNT) services.

The Government allocated funding of €6.89 million to facilitate the HSE to procure up to 2,500 additional AONs. The waiting list initiative targets those families waiting longest for AONs, with the HSE reimbursing clinicians directly through the procurement of capacity from approved private providers.

The HSE have advised, in the order of 2,479 AONs were commissioned from private providers during the months of June to December at a total cost of circa €8.2million.

Under Budget 2025, Government will facilitate the continuation of the Assessment of Need Waiting List Initiative to enable the procurement of private assessments for long-waiting families, with €10m funding allocated in 2025 to deliver circa 2,850 AONs and allow for additional capacity in the assessment teams in the form of assessment and liaison officers.

Increased funding in Budget 2025 will provide for the recruitment of new posts for the CDNTs - 20 senior grade and 20 staff grade therapists / nursing WTE & 20 therapy assistants. 15 clinical psychologist trainee placements have also been funded.

The Government will strive to engage with the HSE, families and service providers in order to ensure each child receives the support and services they require.