Tipperary campaigner lands important meeting with Minister for Disability

Disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody will confront Minister for Disability Emer Higgins TD next Monday 7 September at 4pm in a high-stakes meeting to deliver her emergency funding submission for "Cara's Fund" as part of Budget 2027.

The critical meeting was scheduled when Minister for Finance Simon Harris nominated Minister Higgins to meet Cara, as pressure intensifies to resolve the statutory backlog trapping thousands of Irish families in an unacceptable waiting list abyss.

Cara will demand immediate state intervention and the release of dedicated resources to "Cara's Fund" (created by then Taoiseach Harris in 2024 in Cara's honour) to dismantle the catastrophic Assessment of Needs (AON) waiting lists.

Over 22,000 children across Ireland are currently left in limbo, facing massive delays for vital diagnostic assessments that legally should be completed within six months.

Speaking ahead of the targeted talks, Cara Darmody issued a sharp warning about the ongoing delays:

"We are dealing with a total system failure and an absolute emergency for over 22,000 children across this country who are being systematically failed by the state. Families are being torn apart by anxiety while waiting years for a statutory right that the law says they should have in months.

“I am going into this meeting next Monday with one objective: to make the government understand that time has completely run out. We need emergency funding injected directly into "Cara's Fund" right now to clear these backlog lists before more children lose their futures."

Darmody added: "The establishment of 'Cara's Fund' was crucial and I give the Government serious credit for that, especially Tánaiste Harris. But the system is now on the verge of collapse so we need to see way more funding to "Cara's Fund."

I appreciate that Minister Harris has nominated Minister Higgins to receive this formal submission, but fine words and political gestures mean nothing to an autistic child locked out of early intervention. At 4pm next Monday, I'll be demanding a concrete, immediate financial commitment to these children. We will not accept any more excuses or delays."

"I'll also be requesting that the Government consider substantial funding to go to recruitment as we just simply don't have the therapists & psychologists to deal with that backlog of 22,000 children. I've long said that we need to look internationally if we can't find staff here in Ireland. The time for excuses is over."

Cara will outline to Minister Higgins immediate financial mechanisms intended to source private and public diagnostic avenues, aiming to rapidly drive down the record-breaking figures of children currently denied assessment services. She will also provide clear suggestions about recruitment.