Written answers
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Disabilities Assessments
Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
231. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in County Wexford waiting for an assessment of need at the latest available point in 2024 and 2025; the number of assessments conducted in 2024 and year-to-date in 2026; the number of applications received in those periods, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17697/26]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Government recognises that there are unacceptable delays in accessing Assessments of Need. The Department and the HSE are committed to addressing these delays.
It is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
Demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. The impact of this increased demand has contributed to there being 20,209 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of 2025 according to the most recently available HSE data.
More positively, there has been continued improvement in the number of completed assessment of need reports with 5,939 reports completed in 2025. This is a 43% increase nationally compared to the number completed in 2024. However, there is regional variation and this level of improvement is not reflected in all areas, as the data provided below for Wexford LHO shows.
The HSE provides Assessment of Need data on a quarterly basis, the most recent of which is for Q4 2025. This data is not available on a county level but is available at Local Health Office (LHO). Data provided below for Wexford LHO is for 2024 and 2025 only as data for 2026 is not yet available.:
| No. of AON applications received in 2025 | 408 |
|---|---|
| No. of AON applications received in 2024 | 231 |
| Total completed in 2025 | 261 |
| Total completed in 2024 | 229 |
| Total overdue for completion at the end of 2025 | 261 |
| Total overdue for completion at the end of 2024 | 198 |
- Ensuring the assessment process focuses on a child’s needs, so that more intensive clinical assessments are only used where required.
- Development of statutory guidelines to better support HSE assessment officers.
The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. has also been published, providing information on Assessment of Need and the proposed changes for parents and any other interested stakeholders.
The HSE continues to work on a number of significant non-legislative actions to address the wider issue of access to services and supports for children with disabilities including:
- Introduction of a Single Point of Access system by the HSE in 2026. This should make it easier for families to be referred to the right service, whether that is primary care, CDNT or mental health services. It aims to streamline referrals and reduce duplication, so children do not end up on multiple waiting lists.
- Implementation of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol by the HSE in early 2026. The Protocol will provide a standardised assessment process across primary care, mental health and disability services. It will be the preferred assessment route for autism.
- The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including AON, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.
No comments