'The system is broken': Assessment of Need system stifling kids' development

The number of children and young people in county Longford with a disability waiting on an Assessment of Need is estimated to be in the 'high hundreds' and the 'system is broken and it needs a complete overhaul'.

That is the view of Fine Gael Councillor Peggy Nolan who spoke on Monday after details emerged that 7,171 children, who may have autism in the HSE Dublin and Midlands region, which includes county Longford, are presently waiting to be assessed - the highest in the country.

Read more: Longford's average monthly rent throughout final quarter of 2025

Cllr Nolan said there needs to be a review of the Assessment of Need system to ensure children and young people are assessed more quickly and that they have access to the supports they need and their lives are not 'put on hold'.

"The system is broken and it needs a complete overhaul.

"You have CAMHs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and you saw what happened in Kerry, it's in total disarray.

"And there is so many children now that are being diagnosed with autism and with different psychological and mental needs that there isn't the resources there to deal with it.”

Cllr Nolan, a member of the HSE Dublin Mid Leinster Forum, insisted it is an ‘absolute worry for parents with youngsters who need first of all to be assessed’.

The Longford Town-based representative stated nothing can happen and no supports can be rolled out for a child unless they are assessed.

"They can't eat, they can't even get an SNA in school, nothing can happen.

"It is like putting your hand up and keeping a child at bay and that means keeping their whole life, not just their education, but their social involvement, their social inclusion, everything is put on hold.

"It is no use throwing money at this system because that's what happens, the Minister and the people in the department, they know the situation, they're doing their best as regards allocating funding but the whole system needs a review and it needs an absolute overhaul and an assessment.

"An assessment of needs, it is not working, it is not functional.

“Throwing money won't work because we need staff to cover all of the different disciplines that we don't have.

"We need to keep the staff when they come out of university and when they are graduates, we need to encourage them to stay here and deliver the services they've been taught to deliver at expense to the State.”

Cllr Nolan said she believes that is "not because of the lack of awareness because the Minister is fully aware" of the situation.
"The Tánaiste's brother, Adam Harris is working tirelessly for people with special needs.

"You have our own TD here in Longford Micheál Carrigy who has put a paper forward and has it being acted on for kids with autism and special needs.

"It's not as if people are walking away and ignoring the situation.

"But the system is broken and it needs to be fixed.

“The people who are not being engaged with who could tell them how to fix it at local level and at national level are the parents.

“The parents, who can't go to sleep at night worrying how much longer their child is going to be held back.

Read more: BREAKING | Crews working to repair major water pipe burst in south Longford

“The longer a child with special needs whose needs are not being met continues, that child's whole development is being put on hold.”

Cllr Nolan estimates, based on the number of calls and interactions she has with parents, the number of children on the waiting list is in the 'high hundreds'.