Twenty-six children waiting over 12 months for autism assessment

Twenty-six children in County Cavan are waiting over 12 months for an autism assessment.

That’s according to Cavan-Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Deputy Pauline Tully, who has indicated her “dismay” at the situation.

The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Disability and Carers was responding to the reply on a parliamentary question she submitted to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It confirmed that, in August 2024, there were 41 children awaiting an autism assessment, with 26 of these waiting more than 12 months.

“It is scandalous that children are having to wait over a year to have an autism assessment,” lambasted Deputy Tully, before adding her concerns over the staff vacancy rate of 60% at the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) in Cavan.

“This shows that the government is failing to do enough to ensure the recruitment and retention of vital therapy staff to deliver assessments within the statutory timeframe set out. Countrywide there are now 817 staff vacancies in CDNTs compared to 707 in 2022 and 524 in 2021.

“The high and increasing level of staff vacancies in CDNTs is undoubtedly the main factor that has led to extremely high waiting lists for assessments and follow-up services for children," said the party's spokesperson on Children and Disability.

Deputy Tully is calling on the government to outline a multi-annual funding plan for delivering the Action Plan Disability Services 2024-2026. This, she said, must deal with the disparity in pay and conditions between section 39 staff [healthcare workers employed by voluntary groups rather than directly by the State] and those working directly for the HSE in the public sector.

The disparity in pay is also having an impact on voluntary organisations such as Enable Ireland and their ability to recruit staff and this, in turn, is impacting on waiting lists.

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