Government Minister's pledge to tackle Assessment of Need waiting lists welcomed by Kildare Senators

Two separate Kildare Senators have welcomed Minister for Disability Anne Rabbitte's commitment to tackle the Assessment of Need waiting lists.

Minister Rabbitte told the Dáil yesterday that if six regional assessment units are not in place by August 1 to tackle Assessment of Needs waiting lists, she will seek funding in Budget 2024 for families who have had to pay privately.

The announcement was welcomed by Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, who said: "Fianna Fáil in Government is committed to delivering health care in a manner that promotes patient empowerment, improves quality of life, increases life expectancy and supports people with disabilities to choose the supports that most meet their need.  

"It is important to acknowledge that the development of every child with a disability, including those with autism, to reach his or her full potential is of the upmost importance.

"We recognise the requirement to provide timely access to health and social care services that meet the presenting needs of individual children and their families.  

She concluded: "I welcome this significant commitment by Minister Anne Rabbitte: it further demonstrates Fianna Fáil's commitment to reduce the waiting times for Assessment of Need and the access to intervention therapies identified from that process."

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'AT BREAKING POINT'

Labour Party Senator Mark Wall also welcomed the news from Minister Rabbitte, calling it 'a rare victory for all families with children waiting for an assessment of needs.'

He said: "No child should have to wait for an assessment of need but unfortunately as it stands, thousands of children are.

"I was delighted that the Darmody family joined us today to hear Government concede at last. The Darmody family are just one of the thousands of families nationwide who are at breaking point."

Senator Wall continued: "As of March 2023, 10,696 children have been waiting for over 12 months for initial contact with a Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT), an increase of 836 since December, and 17,157 were waiting in total.

"The uncertainty and lack of support for these families is nothing short of a national disgrace."

"In March of this year, Minister Rabbitte confirmed to me in the Seanad during a commencement matter that there were 2,665 families waiting on an assessment of needs in the CHO7 area where we are living.

"We need to see action from Government now. Labour will continue to hold the Minister to account to ensure that children currently on waiting lists have their needs assessed without any further delay."

"Early intervention is crucial for children," he concluded.