Statistics obtained by Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward found that over 1,100 children in Dublin Mid-West are waiting for their first stage of assessment of need examination.
Ward called the statistics “unacceptable.”
1,155 children are waiting on a stage 1 assessment, or a “desktop examination” of the application, which involves the application and all relevant documents being assessed ahead of a formal assessment.
Ward said that assessments are not progressing in a timely manner.
“We have seen a frightening increase in the number of overdue assessments, in the last number of years,” he said.
“The statutory timeline for an assessment of needs to be completed is 6 months. Those waiting longer than the legal requirement jumped from 500 in 2021 to over 15,000 now. This figure is expected to reach nearly 25,000 by the end of the year,” warned.
“Sinn Féin brought a motion to the Dáil with the combined opposition last week, calling on the government to act; the motion laid out the clear and concrete steps this government must take if they are serious about tackling assessments of need waiting lists and complying with its legal and moral obligations.”
The Sinn Féin TD said “we are calling on the government to take emergency action and make funding available to ‘Cara’s Fund’, to clear the backlog and to set a specific target date by which they aim to comply with their legal obligations.”
“This must include an urgent workforce plan to train, recruit, and retain enough staff, adequate funding of special needs services and the provision of appropriate school places for children with special needs.
“We will continue to stand up for children and their families until the government lives up to their responsibilities.”