Tipperary teen says meeting with Tánaiste Simon Harris was 'a huge success'

Tipperary teenager and activist Cara Damody has said her meeting this week with Tánaiste Simon Harris was ‘a huge success.’

Cara said she has now had confirmation from the Tánaiste that the government will not break the six-month time limit, when it comes to how long children requiring assessments of needs appointments, should legally be seen.

Opposition party leaders were previously worried that the government was seeking to change this six-month limit and lengthen it. This would have been to the detriment of thousands of disabled children waiting to be seen for an assessment of needs appointment.

READ NEXT: Garda speed vans collected over €3.3m in fines from motorists in Tipperary over 30 month period

Cara has now confirmed a secure commitment from Tanaiste Simon Harris that this will not happen. One of the teenagers asks was that a new law be brought in by government, that promises to retain the right to an Assessment of Need & not change the 6-month timeframe to assess children.

Cara said she has also received a commitment that Harris will lay the new law before the Dáil by January. Cara has also been successful in securing more finance into ‘Cara’s Fund’ in the next budget, she says.

Cara also had the chance to put together a coalition of the opposition party leaders, who stood with her outside the Dáil before her big meeting on Tuesday morning (September 1).

READ NEXT: Cashel Community School Student of the Year records a remarkable academic achievement

Cara posted on social media after her meeting, relaying the outcomes to her followers online. “I’m exhausted - what a day it’s been! From meeting the Opposition leaders, to meeting the Tanaiste Simon Harris with Minister Naughton, to giving him a cake with “The Brawl in the Dail” on it, and then sitting with him to negotiate - it’s been amazing! So I’ve secured HUGE commitments from the Tanaiste!

"Legally, l wanted them to put a new law on the table by January, and promise to retain the right to an Assessment of Need & not change the 6-month timeframe to assess children, which everyone said they were going to do to stop themselves being lawbreakers - I got all of my asks,” concluded Cara.

The teen also secured a commitment from the Tánaiste that he will increase funding allocated to ‘Cara’s Fund’ in the next budget on October 7, but not stating the amount yet.