In response to a parliamentary question submitted by Sinn Féin TD for Galway East, Louis O’Hara, the HSE has outlined that there are 565 assessment of need applications overdue for completion across counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
An Assessment of Need will identify the health needs of a child and recommend the services that are required to meet those needs.
Under the Disability Act 2005, the Health Service Executive has a statutory obligation to complete an Assessment of Need within six months of receiving a complete application. This includes commencing the assessment within three months of receiving the application and completing the assessment report within an additional three months.
Reacting to the data, Deputy O’Hara said that it is a disgrace to see such a high number of overdue Assessment of Need applications.
“These assessments are vital to identifying children’s needs and helps determine the appropriate supports for them.
“While an Assessment of Need is not required to access the health service, this comprehensive assessment is critical for ensuring that a child has the appropriate resources available to them for their needs.
He added that in May, statements and an opposition motion on assessments of need were debated in the Dáil as 14 year old Cara Dermody held a 50 hour protest outside the gates of Leinster House to highlight the delays in assessments of need.
“This latest data illustrates that the Government has failed to tackle the backlogs in the Assessment of Need system since Cara’s protest and that the number of overdue applications continues to grow across the West.
“The Government must now act to comply with the Disability Act rather than suggesting the timelines should be changed. There is clearly a resourcing issue within the system and the Government must act to ensure the system is fit for purpose.
“They must take emergency action by utilising private capacity; delivering a longer-term sustainable solution including an urgent workforce plan to train and retrain enough staff to finally end this breach of children’s rights once and for all; and fund special needs services including speech and language, physio, and occupational and behavioural therapies.
“This is vital to ensure that all children are provided with the services and supports that they need,” he concluded.
