Over 20,000 children overdue assessments to determine disability and supports

Michael Bolton

Over 20,000 children were overdue for a disability Assessment of Need (AoN) at the end of 2025.

The process is part of the Disability Act 2005, used to determine whether a person has a disability and the nature and extent of their needs.

Figures from the HSE show 20,209 children were overdue AoN, with 16,960 children waiting over three months.

This includes 1,006 applications for which an extended time frame was negotiated with the parent on the grounds of there being exceptional circumstances.

A further 3,616 new applications were received in Q4, 2025, making a total of 13,186 for the year. This is a 23 per cent increase on the figure for 2024 of 10,690.

5,949 AONs were completed in 2025, a 43 per cent increase on the 2024 figure of 4,162.

The Disability Act outlines the statutory timelines under which Assessments of Need under the Act must be completed. It requires the assessment report to be completed within six months of the application being received.

Only 9.4 per cent of assessments were completed within the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005.

The Regional Health Area (RHA) with the highest number of children overdue AON is HSE Dublin and Midlands, with 7,171 children overdue for assessment.

This RHA provides care to Dublin South City and West and Dublin South West, Kildare, West Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

Of the 7,171 children, 6,385 children are waiting over three months.

In HSE Dublin and North East, with 6195 children overdue for assessment.

This RHA provides care to North Dublin, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and most areas of Cavan. Of the 6,195 children, 5243 children are waiting over three months.

At HSE Dublin and South East, providing care for South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and most areas of Wicklow, 3041 are waiting for assessment.

Of those still to be seen, 2,432 of the children are waiting over three months.

HSE South West, covering Cork and Kerry, has 1,851 children waiting for AON, with the majority waiting over three months at 1348.

HSE West and North West, covering Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, has

To combat the waiting lists, the HSE have said they are introducing a Single Point of Referral Access for all Children’s Primary Care, Disability and CAMH Services, in which AON will be included.

There will also be an increased number of Assessment Officers and Liaison Officers, which will be prioritised for Dublin and Cork.

The percentage of these AONs that show ‘No Disability’ has increased from 15.8 per cent in 2010 to 29 per cent in 2025.

The HSE said this is significant as assessors would have spent time assessing these applications.