'Hard to defend the indefensible' on assessment-of-need backlog

All AON applications were on behalf of children aged five or under. File picture

HSE efforts to cut the backlog in processing assessment-of-need applications appear to be falling short, with new figures showing some parts of the country have seen zero applications moved onto the second stage of the process within the legal timeframe.

Disability Minister Anne Rabbitte said of the situation: "It is sometimes hard to defend the indefensible."