Reducing assessment of need waiting lists 'will not happen overnight', warns minister

Cabinet today sanctioned the formation of 11 new expert teams, and a new HSE autism pathway is due to enter operation in February.

Children's minister Norma Foley said the current assessment of need system is 'broken'. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

The Government has declined to set out when it will meet its statutory target to provide an assessment of need (AON) to children within six months of application.

Children’s minister Norma Foley said the Government intends to reach the goal of carrying out AONs within six months “as quickly as we possibly can”, but did not say if there was a timeline for when this would happen.