Mayo TD wants action to clear children's assessment of need backlog

Mayo TD and chair of the Children and Equality Committee, Keira Keogh, has called for urgent action to address the national backlog in the assessment of need process for children.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Keogh drew on her 19 years of experience working with the neurodiverse community and the voices of families across Mayo to highlight the critical importance of timely diagnoses and supports, calling for more resources, greater use of private supports, and a focus on recruitment and retention in disability services.

“It takes real courage by a parent when they notice that milestones are missed or they start to see struggles,” said Deputy Keogh. “To take that first step to seek answers, to seek a diagnosis, to seek a roadmap, is incredibly brave.”

She welcomed the recent 65% increase in completed assessments in the first quarter of 2025 and the establishment of regional hubs to tackle the backlog but stressed that it’s not enough.

“We have over 15,000 children on a waiting list nationally, including almost 200 in Mayo alone. We must continue to increase resources. We have to use the private sector where needed and we must address recruitment and retention issues.”

Deputy Keogh also recognised the importance of Cara Darmody’s 50-hour protest outside the Dáil, and acknowledged: “There is something very wrong when a 14-year-old feels the need to protest to affect change.”

She also highlighted the toll on services and families alike, noting that over 700 children in CHO 2 (covering Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon) are waiting for appointments with Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), while 21% of CDNT positions remain vacant across the country.

“Therapists want to provide therapies, not just assessments. They know that early intervention and regular appointments are where the difference is really going to be made. But right now, so many are caught just trying to catch up on the backlog.”

Deputy Keogh also welcomed recent developments such as the rollout of in-school therapists and improved access to the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) without requiring a completed assessment.

“We do also have to acknowledge that sometimes parents feel the assessment of need is their only route to services but actually they can access CDNT, primary care services, SET hours in school, SNA hours in school, NEPS psychologists (although most of these services are struggling with capacity) and I really welcome that families can now access the DCA grant without the assessment of need being completed.”

She reminded the Dáil that while diagnosis is not the only route to support, it is, however, often the key to accessing certain services.

“They do need the diagnosis if they want to access home tuition, a special school, or an autism class. And NEPS psychologists and therapists have told us that they want that detailed knowledge and diagnosis. The assessment notes are really key.”

Deputy Keogh called for continued cross-party collaboration, and added: “This is going to be the measure of our government, this and housing. They are our two biggest challenges.”