Cavan-Monaghan TD Pauline Tully has voiced her dismay at the fact that 26 children in Cavan have been waiting over a year for an autism assessment.
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Disability and Carers was referring to a reply to a parliamentary question she submitted to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which stated that as of August 2024 there were 41 children awaiting an autism assessment, with 26 of these waiting over 12 months.
Deputy Tully says it's scandalous that children are having to wait over a year to have an autism assessment. However, She said it was hardly surprising considering that the Children's Disability Network Team in Cavan has a staff vacancy rate of 60% according to the latest HSE staff census. Deputy Tully says this shows that the government are failing to do enough to ensure the recruitment and retention of vital therapy staff to deliver assessments within the statutory timeframe set out.
