Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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1514. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the process for an individual to receive reimbursement for the cost of an assessment of need when the individual had to go private, due to the State not meeting its statutory requirement for a timely assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58568/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It is acknowledged that demand for Assessments of Need has been growing over the years, outpacing the capacity of the public system to respond and leading to increasing delays.

However, it is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need, as defined by the Disability Act (2005), in order to access services provided by Primary Care, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNT) or any Health or Social care service. Referrals to a service can be made by a healthcare professional or parent/carer. Children with complex needs as a result of their disability may receive services from a CDNT, whereas children with non-complex needs may receive services from Primary Care.

It is understood that some families may source private clinical assessments for their children. However, these are not an Assessment of Need as defined and provided for under the Disability Act. The Assessment of Need process is undertaken by a HSE Assessment Officer and includes the production of an Assessment of Need report.

As part of this process, an Assessment Officer may request a clinical assessment(s), either from HSE clinicians or from certain private providers. These providers are contracted by the HSE to provide clinical assessments in line with appropriate procurement procedures, Garda vetting and due diligence practice. The HSE must ensure that the contracted providers are appropriately qualified and that any assessments are provided in line with the legislation, HSE Standard Operating Procedures and the iHIQA standards.

Funding for these clinical assessments is currently provided for under the Targeted Waitlist Initiative introduced by the then Government in May 2024. Almost 5,000 assessments have commissioned under this Initiative during the 12-month period to June 2025, at a cost of €17.6m. This ensures families are not required to pay for clinical assessments themselves up-front.

Budget 2026 includes provision for funding of €20m for the continued support of the Targeted Waitlist Initiative. This will provide for up to 6,000 clinical assessments to be delivered through a panel of private providers currently being established by the HSE. It is expected that panels will be established in each of the six health regions.

It should be noted that the HSE does not fund, reimburse or subsidise any fees paid to private practitioners in any of the health service areas where assessments, interventions or therapies have been commissioned by the service user or their family directly.