Assessment of Need system leaves children with disabilities waiting years for essential services, report says

In the report foreword the Children's Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon writes of "many complaints from distraught parents whose children have been on a waiting list for years to access an assessment of need for their child", adding: "Many have found that once their child is assessed, they struggle to get any or all of the services recommended to help their child talk, move, learn and grow."

The country's Assessment of Need system is leaving many children with a disability waiting years for the services they require and is marked by a lack of resources and inconsistencies between different HSE areas, according to a new report by the Children's Ombudsman.

In the 'Unmet Needs' report, published today, on the challenges faced by children who require an assessment of their needs, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children says the system needs to be revamped, along with a possible ten-fold increase in resources to make it work as less than 10% of AONs are typically delivered within the statutory timeframe.