HSE spends €700k on litigation related to children's assessment of need

The HSE spent over €700,000 in legal fees for litigation due to delayed completion of assessments of need for children with disabilities.

The Health Service Executive spent more than €700,000 in legal fees for litigation due to delayed completion of assessments of need for children with disabilities over the past three years.

Under the Disability Act 2005, the provision of an assessment must be commenced within three months of its initial referral, and completed within three months of commencement, with a further month to issue the report and service statement.