Some 272 Donegal children with disabilities and autism are currently overdue their assessment of need, that’s according to HSE data revealed by Deputy Pearse Doherty.
The number, as seen in an internal document, was slammed as ‘scandalous’ and ‘unacceptably high’ by Deputy Doherty.
The crisis cannot be ignored, he said. The Sinn Féin Deputy has also criticised the failure of government to allocate ’emergency funding’ announced this year to combat the crisis in Children’s Disability Network Teams in Donegal.
“The Disability Act states Children are entitled to a completed assessment of need within six months of a request or a referral,” said Deputy Pearse Doherty.
“The previous government has made children wait and wait for an intervention at such a vital time in their lives.
“Despite all the many representations I have provided to the HSE and government warning them of how this was turning into a crisis over the last number of years, this figure is still unacceptably high.
“The government parties need to have a serious conversation about how we are caring for children with disabilities in this county. They cannot be allowed to continue to ignore this crisis.”
