The Government is committed to the development of children's disability services through the implementation of the progressing disability services programme. The High Court judgment on standard operating procedures for assessment of need, AON, is being examined by the HSE, which is engaging at all levels to address the judgment while ensuring the availability of therapy supports. AON reports will no longer be issued on the basis of a preliminary team assessment. Where appointments have already been scheduled with children, these will form the first steps in their AON process.
All 91 children's disability network teams, CDNTs, were established by the end of 2021 to provide services for children with complex needs within a defined geographic area. Since 2019, 475 development posts have been allocated to children's disability services throughout the country assigned based on factors including the existing ratio of staff to children with disabilities in each area. A staffing census of CDNTs has been undertaken and is being verified. It is envisaged that this information will become available in early April.
There are recruitment and retention challenges regarding the filling of posts due to the availability of opportunities across the wider HSE and the private sector. Work continues on establishing family forums, with the HSE advising that approximately 40 forums have either been established or are in train.