Cara Darmody tells Dáil: Ireland an ‘international embarrassment’ on child disability services

Cara Darmody, the well-known 14-year old Autism and Disability Rights Campaigner, is currently holding an unprecedented rally at Leinster House today from 11am – 12pm.

She has been protesting outside Leinster house once a week since June, all for three basic asks – That the Government stop the HSE breaking the Assessments of Needs law (which states that children must be assessed within six months of application, provide proper Services such as Speech & language, etc, and to provide proper and appropriate school places for special needs children.

Cara explained why she is protesting today:

“At this stage everyone knows that I started campaigning at just 11 years of age in 2022 by sitting the Junior Cycle Maths exam to raise national awareness of disability issues in our Country, and then getting my result of 97% live on The Late Late Show.”

“Since then, nothing has changed. In fact, it’s become even worse.

“Successive Governments have let children with autism and intellectual disabilities down in the worst possible way.

“For over two years, I have alleged that permanent damage is being caused to thousands & thousands of children.

“Nobody has ever challenged my assertion of this.

“The fact that it is happening is a National Disgrace!”

“Everything about me organising this “Monster Meeting” rally is wrong.

“I shouldn’t be there – I should be in school, in class being a normal 14 year old.

“Instead, I will be there standing up for kids who cannot fight back, all because our political system treats children with disabilities disgracefully.

“Successive Governments are aware that permanent damage is being caused to children, but they do not treat that with urgency.

“I will call that out big-time at the rally!

“My childhood has been stolen because of Government inaction.

“My two brothers, who have autism & severe intellectual disabilities, weren’t properly assessed, don’t get proper Services, and are in the wrong school for their disability.

“For our family, when you’re dealing with the HSE and State Services, you are treated as an enemy of the State.

“Our story is most people’s story.”

“So I’m calling on people to please come out and support this cause.

“I met the Taoiseach recently and he credited me and my campaign with the recent allocation of almost €7million towards Assessments of Needs backlogs.

“He also said that my campaign was responsible for the allocation of 1,000+ additional Assessments of Needs to children with disabilities over the Summer – assessments that wouldn’t have been received if I hadn’t started to protest.

“The Taoiseach is engaging with me and this campaign so now is the time for people to get fully behind me and send a message loud and clear to the Taoiseach of: ‘Thanks for the €7million, but it’s only a drop in the ocean – now please cough-up an awful lot more’.

“I’ve actually invited every single Councillor, TD & Senator in the Country, so this is a great chance for politicians to show there interest & support for these issues.

“So please come to Leinster House today, the Gardai have the street closed off for us so there will be plenty of space for everyone. I can’t wait to see you all there.”