Tipperary Sinn Fein TD Martin Browne is calling again on the Minister of State for Disability to meet the obligations under the Disability Act 2005 to provide an assessment of Need to children who require it within a 6-month timeframe.
Deputy Browne made the call after noting that Tipperary school girl Cara Darmody had begun a campaign of protest outside Leinster House and the Taoiseach’s office to highlight the delays faced by families.
Deputy Browne adds that the government commitment to build up capacity in the Children’s Disability Network Teams and make greater use of private sector capacity rings hollow if only 3,205 Assessments of Need were completed last year despite there being 8,804 Assessment of Needs applications received by the Regional Assessment of Need hubs.
The Sinn Fein TD for Tipperary says “An urgent response is needed if the huge gap between applicants and completions is to be closed.” Parents have also highlighted the lack of appropriate therapies for children with a completed assessment of needs
