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From:Department of Children, Disability and Equality

Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, and Minister for State with responsibility for Disability, Emer Higgins, have today presented the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 to Government.

The Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 will introduce a number of key improvements to the Assessment of Need process for children and their families.

Over the last number of years, demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly as parents seek the right kind of supports for their children at the earliest possible juncture in their lives.

The Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 introduces a number of key improvements to the Assessment of Need process to meet the needs of children and their families.

Eleven new In-Reach teams will be available to provide, clinical guidance and support for clinicians performing assessments informed by the new autism assessment protocol. Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist and an administrator.

The majority of positions are in the process of being filled, with interviews being scheduled or offers being made to candidates from existing panels. It is anticipated that all 11 In-Reach Teams will be in place by year end.

An Assessment of Need is an important mechanism for recognising and documenting a person's needs, but it is not a gateway or fast track to services and does not provide an entitlement to treatment or support. Families can access HSE services independently of the Assessment of Need process.

All changes being introduced as part of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 do not alter the existing 6-month statutory timelines for the completion of an assessment nor does it impact the right of an individual to apply for an assessment of need.

The definition of disability as outlined in the Disability Act 2005 remains unchanged as a result of this legislative reform.

“The Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026, which I have presented to Government today, will play an important role in helping to improve the Assessment of Need process for children and their families. Assessment of Need, in its current format, does not meet the needs of families. I know that the increased wait times have become a source of deep frustration for families.

The Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 will introduce changes that will make the Assessment of Need process more efficient, consistent, fair, and transparent for children and families.”

““The current backlog of assessments is unacceptable and is a source of significant frustration for parents who simply wish to understand and act upon their child’s needs. This legislation will bring about positive and lasting change to the Assessment of Need process for children and families, as well as for HSE staff working in the system.

As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I am committed to ensuring that people who apply for an Assessment of Need have their application considered and determined in a timely manner, and the legislative reforms being introduced by the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 will make these improvements over time.”

The Disability (Amendment) Bill will shortly be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Legislative reform is only one part of the Government’s response to address the concerns of families who are seeking access to services. Improvements continue across the wider children’s disability sector. Children’s Disability Network Teams provide supports and services to over 46,000 children with complex needs and report a reduction in waitlist of over 50% since 2023. Budget 2026 also provided funding for an additional 150 CDNT staff who are now being recruited. A national waiting list initiative across physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, is targeting the treatment of over 80,000 people by the end of the year.

Other measures being introduced to improve faster access to service for those who need them include:

These reforms are designed to improve access to assessment outside of the assessment of need process, and to support services.

The Department of Children, Disability, and Equality has a dedicated FAQ document on Assessment of Need available on its websiteherewhich is regularly updated.

Provisions for the withdrawal and closure, and reinstatement of Assessment of Need applications takes account of the need to increase flexibility in the management of applications across the system. The Bill provides for regulations which will outline the conditions under which applications may be withdrawn and closed, and reinstated. There can be many reasons why a person may choose to withdraw their application or change their mind at a later date. In some cases, applicants may be deceased or may have permanently relocated outside the jurisdiction and therefore can no longer participate in the process.

A child does not need an Assessment of Need report to access education supports such as Special Needs Assistants or Special Education Teachers. Professional reports are required to access special class or special school. Information on the type of professional report required can be provided by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) or the HSE. Although some parents may have used an assessment of need report for this purpose, this report does not need to be obtained through the Assessment of Need process. The Department of Education and Youth is developing a process for determining eligibility for enrolment in specialist education settings which will be education-based and needs-led. It is envisioned this will remove the need for a diagnosis to enrol in a special class or special school and applications for these settings will be through an education-led process. The Department of Education and Youth is also putting in place an Education Therapy Service which will initially be in special schools with the intention of expanding the service to schools with special classes and, subject to resources, mainstream schools.

The Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol was launched in May 2026, and implementation is being led by the HSE. This new protocol will provide a standardised assessment process across primary care, mental health, and disability services. A dedicated FAQ document for the Protocol is availablehere. It is anticipated that the successful implementation of the Autism Protocol will help to reduce demand for Assessments of Need, through the provision of a more direct and clearer path to Autism assessment by existing services for children and their families.

The HSE is introducing a Single Point of Access (SPoA) referral model which will help to ensure that children are referred to the right service as early as possible - whether that is a Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), Primary Care Services for Children, or a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team. A phased approach is being taken in relation to the implementation of the model which will streamline referrals and reduce duplication so that children do not end up on multiple waiting lists. Over time, this should reduce pressure on Assessment of Need.