Tánaiste to Review Therapist Recruitment After Teen Campaigner’s Concerns
The Tánaiste Simon Harris has committed to examining a simplification of recruitment procedures for therapists following calls from teenage activist Cara Darmody, who has been campaigning to reduce lengthy delays in assessments of needs for children with disabilities.
An assessment of needs (AON) identifies whether a child or young person has a disability and outlines their health and service requirements; legally, these assessments should be completed within six months of application. However, waiting lists for AONs are projected to reach almost 25,000 by year-end, with only seven percent currently completed on time. Darmody, 15, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, initially began her advocacy due to the difficulties faced by her two brothers, Neil, 12, and John, 8, who have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities. She has since broadened her focus to the national picture, arguing that current recruitment processes are unsustainable.
Speaking yesterday, Harris praised Darmody’s work, stating, “I want to again thank her – a young girl, 15 now, able to bring about so much positive change in our country.” He acknowledged her point about utilizing private sector capacity while building public sector resources, noting that funding for “Cara’s Fund” – established to address AON backlogs – has been doubled to €20 million as part of Budget 2024. Long delays in assessments can significantly impact a child’s access to vital early intervention services.
Harris added that he will discuss Darmody’s concerns regarding convoluted recruitment processes with the Cabinet Committee on Disability this Thursday, and intends to “probe that further” with HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster. Darmody herself welcomed Harris’s comments, expressing hope that his promises will be fulfilled and calling for a nationwide focus on recruiting psychologists and therapists. You can find more information about assessments of needs on the HSE website.
The Tánaiste will pursue the matter further at the upcoming Cabinet committee meeting, seeking to identify potential improvements at a local level.
