Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
1269. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a letter to the editor of a national newspaper regarding assessment of need applications (details supplied); if so, his views on same; if he will engage with the HSE in relation to this short timeframe for response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1623/25]
View answerThe Assessment of Need process, as set out in the Disability Act, aims to identify whether a person has a disability, the nature and extent of the disability, any health and education needs arising from that disability, as well as what services are required to meet those needs.
It is important to note that a diagnosis is not required to access Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) services.
Following a High Court judgement of 11th March 2022, a number of Preliminary Team Assessments (PTAs) that had been previously completed were found not to fulfil the requirement of the Disability Act 2005. The HSE’s National Clinical Programme for People with Disability (NCPPD) led the process of developing clinical guidance to replace the PTA. The HSE are continuing to review the files of all children who received a PTA and are engaging directly with families to establish what additional assessments are required, if any, to meet the requirements of the Act. The HSE liaises with families directly where issues are raised.
