Mick Clifford: Children's needs come after those of HSE and its political paymasters

Cork North, Cork North Lee and Dublin South West, failed to process a single application for assessment of needs within the three month timeline

The average waiting time for an assessment is now 17 months. File photo: iStock

Anne Rabbitte is mad as hell and she isn’t going to take it any more. The junior minister for Disabilities has written to the HSE to express her annoyance at the “indefensible” delay in the assessment of needs for children with disabilities. 

Children whose parents believe that they require services for a disability are now waiting for an average of 17 months for an assessment. Without an assessment, they are not entitled to access services.