Emotional first night outside Dáil for Cara Darmody after incredible gesture by gardaí

It was an emotional first night for campaigner Cara Darmody from Ardfinnan as she began her 50-hour protest outside the Dáil. 

The Tipperary teen is holding a 50-hour long protest outside Leinster House, which started on Tuesday, in the hope of getting the Government to address the large number of children awaiting an assessment for a disability or autism for six months or longer.

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Cara, whose two brothers Neil and John have autism, has been campaigning to have the Government stop breaking the assessments of needs law.

The teen is hoping that the protest will highlight the Governments requirement to carry out autism assessments of need for children within the legal limit of six months, which is currently not being met.

More than 15,000 children are waiting for an assessment of need, but the HSE estimates the number will grow to 25,000 by the end of this year.

Under disability legislation introduced in 2005, children are entitled to access the formal assessment of need process, which evaluates their condition and what services they require, within six months of applying.

Cara marked the completion of her first night in the tent in Dublin city centre and posted on Thursday morning on Facebook. 

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Expressing thanks, Cara singled out her father and the "amazing members of An Garda Síochána" who stood watch throughout the night.

Despite being drenched by the weather, gardaí remained by her side to ensure she stayed dry and could rest.

The gardaí were praised for their exceptional kindness - filling hot water bottles, providing care, and offering unwavering support.

Described simply as “incredible,” their efforts left a lasting impression on the campaigner.

The teenager from Ardfinnan is no stranger to protesting outside Leinster House, as she recently spent months protesting to raise awareness on the assessment of needs crisis.

Thanks to her protesting, she has raised the issue of long waiting lists for children with special needs to be accessed, with multiple politicians and has even had a fund created to help alleviate this waiting list, called ‘Cara’s Fund’.

that are presently rotting on HSE waiting lists, and for the over 100,000 children not getting proper Services. It’s gonna be a chilla, a killa and a thrilla as I take on the big bad ugly Government gorilla.”

“By doing this protest, I’m asking politicians in Ireland to declare this situation a national crisis. I want them to also allocate more money to Cara’s Fund, to help children currently stuck on these waiting lists.”

“My 50-hour protest will be the first of a number of events that I have planned. I’m thrilled that Tánaiste Simon recently wrote to me saying that he wants to meet me again, so I look forward to getting that date and time and to engaging with him again.

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“As they say in sport, I will continue to play the ball in this campaign and not the woman/man. I will not be speaking negatively about any politician, but I will be firmly pointing out that the Assessments of Needs law is being broken every single day of the week, and that the Cabinet cannot hide from that and must take responsibility for it.

“In my opinion, that is why this issue is so important - simply because the law is being broken in full view of the Country. I really believe that this looks so bad for the Government. How can the Cabinet expect teenagers like me to obey the laws of the land, when they allow the breaking of a law? That’s something to reflect upon.” Cara has outlined her aims in a letter sent to politicians, which include: For the Government to undertake to stop breaking the Assessments of Needs law, more funding for ‘Cara’s Fund’ and to set an immediate timeframe to stop the breaking of the AON law."

She is also asking that a very specific financial allocation is made towards the backlogs of Services (SLT, OT, physio), very similar to the May 2024 allocation of €6.89million towards AON backlogs. Cara also points out that right now, parents all over Ireland are being told that they must wait several years for these Services. She is asking the government for a financial allocation and says that if administered correctly by the HSE nationally, this would alleviate the pain and suffering incurred by many families as they struggle with this issue while sitting on long waiting lists.

“The blueprint is there in “Cara’s Fund”, it’s the funding that now needs to be considered.” she concludes.

The teen has already caught the attention of Minister Norma Foley and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton, who will brief the media this afternoon, in relation to Assessment of Need waiting lists.