Over 240 children are overdue assessments of needs appointments in Tipperary

It has been revealed in a statement released today by Labour TD for Tipperary North, Alan Kelly, that there are over 240 children waiting for an assessment of needs appointment in Tipperary.

Politicians are speaking up about the crisis in response to a Tipperary teen who will be protesting outside Leinster House today for 50-hours, trying to get government officials to address the assessments of needs crisis which is leaving children with disabilities on long waiting lists to assess what help they need from the government. 

In a statement released today by TD Alan Kelly, he said: "Following on from a parliamentary question to the Minister for Children I can reveal that 241 children are waiting for assessment of needs in Tipperary. 151 are waiting in North Tipperary and 90 in South Tipperary.

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"This is totally unacceptable with in excess of 15000 waiting nationally and the HSE are admitting that this will rise to nearly 25000 by the end of the year.

"This is a national crisis and the Government are breaking their own law.

"Campaigner Cara Darmody is doing a 50-hour sleepover at the gates of Leinster House this week to highlight that this is a national crisis.

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"I commend her and her family but it is scandalous that she has had to resort to this. I’ve worked with the Darmody’s for a number of years and Cara has met multiple Taoiseach and Ministers but yet the situation has got much worse and is an indictment on this and previous governments."