2857. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who sought an assessment of need in the years 2023 to date in 2026, by year; the length of time they have been waiting (zero-three months, three to six months, six to 12 months, 12 months plus; the number carried out; the number who have received a service statement, by year and by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60342/26]

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

It is important to emphasise that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services or education supports. A parent can refer their child directly to Primary Care or Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) while a GP referral is required to access CAMHS. Information on how to access the appropriate health service for a child is available on the HSE website.

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 2023 and 2025, applications for Assessments of Need rose from 8,472 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, an 85% increase on the number completed in 2023 (3,205). 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 HSE does not provide data at county level, but data is provided at Regional Health Area (RHA) level. The most recent data provided by the HSE is for Q2 2026. The data requested by the Deputy is provided below, in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4.

In December 2025, Government announced a series of improvements to the Assessment of Need process. This includes legislative and operational changes 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.

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

The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/8305aa31/DisabilityAmendmentBill_GeneralScheme_022026.pdf The Joint Committee on Disability Matters has published its report, following pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, and the Department is considering its recommendations. An https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/2fc0c49e/20260324-FAQ-Version-1.1-CLEARED.pdfhas also been published, providing information on Assessment of Need and the proposed changes.

Legislation is only 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 of Need reports. This includes the establishment of working groups to address learning and development needs and to develop statutory guidelines.

The HSE continues to progress 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. The model will be rolled out this year and will make it easier for families to be referred to the right service as early as possible, 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 which was launched in May 2026. This will provide a standardised assessment process for autism across primary care, mental health and disability services. An https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/dc3ff710/Autism_Protocol_FAQ_May_2026.pdfis available with further information.

• The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including Assessment of Need, 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.

Table 1, Q2 2026

Table 2, 2025

Table 3, 2024

Table 4, 2023