2956. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average waiting time in each health region for completion of the preliminary team assessment under the assessment of need standard operating procedure for children suspected of having autism or an intellectual disability, together with the number of children awaiting completion of a preliminary team assessment, as of the latest date for which figures are available, in tabular form. [57968/26]

2968. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently awaiting completion of an assessment of need beyond the statutory timeframe, broken down by HSE health region and county, as of the latest date for which figures are available, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58150/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2956 and 2968 together.

The delivery of an effective, efficient Assessment of Need system is a priority for the Government.

Children do not require an Assessment of Need report to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services, or education supports.

However, 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. Between 2022 and 2025, applications for Assessments of Need almost doubled rising from 6,755 to 13,186 and are continuing to increase with 7,100 applications already received in the first 6 months of this year. This demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to respond resulting in over 23,000 applications overdue for completion at the end of June 2026.

There has been intensive work by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE to address delays in the provision of Assessments of Need. This is evident in the continued improvement in the number of completed Assessment of Need reports with 5,939 reports completed nationally in 2025. This is almost double the number completed in 2022 (3,071). The HSE reports that 3,043 Assessment of Need reports were completed in the first six months of 2026. This improvement is welcome and must continue.

The Preliminary Team Assessment (PTA) has not been in effect since the 2022 High Court judgement, which ruled that the PTA under the HSE Standard Operating Procedure was non-compliant with the Disability Act. Therefore, data is not available on the average waiting time for the completion of Preliminary Team Assessments. In addition, data is not available on the number of children suspected of having autism or an intellectual disability who have applied for an Assessment of Need. However, data on completed applications for the first 6 months of 2026 show that intellectual disability was noted as the main category of disability for 2.8% of the 3,043 completed reports, while autism spectrum disorder was noted as the main category of disability for 52%.

The HSE does not provide data at county level but data is provided at Regional Health Area (RHA) and Local Health Office (LHO) level. The most recent data provided by the HSE is for Q2 2026. The data requested by the Deputy is in the following table:

In December 2025 Government announced a series of improvements to the Assessment of Need process which will make it more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment. This includes legislative reform and operational improvements to support the efficiency and effectiveness of the Assessment of Need process.

The proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child. They also will not alter the statutory six-month timeline set out in the Disability Act.

The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/assessment-of-needs-process-proposed-changes/ has also been published, providing information on Assessment of Need and the proposed changes for parents and any other interested stakeholders.

It is important to recognise that legislation is only a part of the response. The Department is working with the HSE to identify further opportunities to enhance processes, improve training, and increase administrative supports for HSE Assessment Officers who are responsible for the production of assessment reports. This includes the establishment of working groups to address learning and development needs and to develop statutory guidelines.

The HSE is also implementing 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 which 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 by the HSE of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol, announced in May 2026, which will provide a standardised assessment process across primary care, mental health and disability services. It will be the preferred assessment route for autism. A dedicated FAQ document for the Protocol is also available on the Department’s website.

• The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including AON, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.

It is intended that these improvements to the AON process will result in a noticeable reduction in waiting times for children and their families across the country.