2 Mar 2026, 15:24
The Joint Committee on Disability Matters will hold two meetings this week as part of its Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025, which proposes changes to the Assessment of Need (AON) process under the Disability Act 2005.
The first meeting will take place tomorrow, Tuesday March 3rd in Committee Room 1 between 18:00-21:00.
The Committee will hear from representatives from Disabled Women Ireland and AsIAm, Disability Federation of Ireland and Enable Ireland.
The second meeting will take place on Wednesday March 4th in Committee Room 1 between 9:30-12:00 and will hear from representatives from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, the Psychological Society of Ireland and the Centre for Disability Law and Policy.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters Deputy Maurice Quinlivan said: “The Assessment of Need process is often the first point of contact many families have with the State when seeking support for their child. The current system is under immense pressure, with significant delays, workforce shortages and a clear gap between assessment and access to services.
For example, under the current Assessment of Need system more than 90% of children are not seen within the statutory six-month timeframe and that more than 20,000 children are overdue an assessment.
The Committee will examine closely whether the proposed amendments genuinely strengthen children’s rights, safeguard access to comprehensive assessments, and ensure alignment with Ireland’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Our priority is to ensure that any reform creates a system that is rights-based, well-resourced and places the best interests of the child and their family at its core.”
Watch the Committee live on www.oireachtas.ie or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.
