Tipperary girl to protest outside Leinster House every week as she campaigns for change

Ardfinnan's Cara Darmody has campaigned for the last two years to get the Government to pay for all private assessments and services.

The young Tipperary girl wants the State to pay for private assessments for children waiting more than three months to be assessed by the HSE.

She also wants the provision of services after an assessment is conducted to be speeded up.

In a petition to the Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions last year, she also called for more State funding for autistic services and for a full review of the means-tested weekly carers' allowance.

Cara says: "While they have made subtle progress, it just isn't enough."

So from next week, she will travel to Leinster House and protest weekly until the next General Election.

She will start next Tuesday morning, where she will greet the Ministers as they walk into the weekly Cabinet meeting.

From September onwards, she may escalate it to several days a week, to coincide with Leaders' Questions.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has agreed to formally meet her, but he has yet to set that date.