651. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of hiring 375 additional clinicians required to clear assessment of needs waiting lists with autism; the estimated full-year cost of ensuring that the timelines for assessment of needs outlined in the Disability Act 2005 are met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35661/25]
Topics / Disabilities Assessments
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsDisabilities Assessments
581 questions from 109 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
581
questions
571 written, 10 oral
109
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
8
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 13 |
| February 2025 | 49 |
| March 2025 | 33 |
| April 2025 | 28 |
| May 2025 | 24 |
| June 2025 | 8 |
| July 2025 | 53 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 23 |
| October 2025 | 24 |
| November 2025 | 34 |
| December 2025 | 33 |
| January 2026 | 23 |
| February 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 61 |
| April 2026 | 76 |
| May 2026 | 16 |
| June 2026 | 13 |
| July 2026 | 22 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 12 |
| October 2026 | 6 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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33
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28
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24
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19
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15
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15
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13
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11
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
167. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the roll out of regional assessment hubs; the location and status of each; details of who will be working out of these hubs, and their roles; the completion date for roll out, as per location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34611/25]
169. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons a child (details supplied) who was referred for an assessment of need (AON) three years ago has still not received an appointment; the specific action she is taking to prioritise long waiting children such as the child concerned, especially given that schools are reporting persistent behavioural issues linked to lack of supp…
129. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an autism assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32959/25]
73. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she has taken to date to reduce the assessment of need waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32747/25]
92. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to address the issue of waiting times for assessments of needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32283/25]
482. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on her Department’s progress on the development of targeted legislation to bring the AON in line with the UNCRPD. [31670/25]
1194. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a person (details supplied) will receive their autism assessment; if that will happen before they turn 18, to ensure that they do not have to start on a new waiting list if they do turn 18 before their assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29940/25]
1249. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons a child (details supplied) has not gotten his assessment of needs appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30597/25]
673. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the average length of time spent per assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005, where a finding of no disability or additional need was recorded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28847/25]
529. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children awaiting an assessment of needs in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number waiting by three-month intervals; the number of who received an assessment to date in 2025; the number of whom received their assessment within six months of application, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26891/2…
533. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for a service statement following completion of their assessment of needs more than 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months, by county, in tabular form. [26938/25]
554. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a child will have an assessment of need carried out (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27537/25]
113. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether there is a pause on the assessments of need process across any of the children's disability network teams in Waterford. [26110/25]
114. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether there is a pause on the assessments of need process across any of the children's disability network teams in the State. [26111/25]
115. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of assessments of need carried out by each children's disability network team in Waterford for each year from 2022 to date in 2025. [26112/25]
116. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need with a children's disability network team in Waterford, by team, for each quarter from 2022 to date in 2025. [26113/25]
122. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE assessment officers based in CHO2 in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [26132/25]
124. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide details of autism assessment waiting times in CHO2 area. [26134/25]
128. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the health service has contracted companies (details supplied), or otherwise engaged commercially with these companies for the provision of assessments of needs`. [26248/25]
129. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the HSE is aware of any assessments, or services provided on the basis of such assessments, conducted by companies (details supplied). [26249/25]
393. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children currently on a waiting list with the NCSE for an assessment of needs; the number of children on a waiting list from 2019 to 2025, in tabular form; the average time children spend on a waiting list; the plans to lower the number of children on a waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25618/25]
745. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the case can be examined of a person (details supplied) who has been waiting for an assessment of needs since he was referred in March 2023, whose parents made a complaint which was upheld giving them a date for assessment, which was then not carried out, and who have been directed to raise this in the Circuit Court after trying to rais…
748. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she could outline the interventions that can be made to assist in the case of a person (details supplied) who is awaiting an autism diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25163/25]
770. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to address the waiting lists regarding assessment of needs tests for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25770/25]