Clare Disability Activist Urges Schools To Be "More Proactive" In Assessment Of Need Process

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8d ago 2:14

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A Clare disability activist claims some schools need to be "more proactive" in assisting children and parents with the "frustrating" assessment of need process. With the 2025/26 school year now in full swing, new figures from the HSE have revealed that just 19 children in Clare received an assessment in the first six months of this year. An assessment of need is an evaluation carried out by the HSE for children or young people with a disability. The process identifies a child's health needs and what health services are required to meet these needs. While the HSE frequently emphasises that an assessment of need isn't necessary in order to avail of health services, it can make it easier to access supports. New HSE data released to Sinn Féin shows just 19 children in Clare received an assessment of need between January and June, which accounted for just 11% of its cases. Of those assessed, a whole 16 were found to have a disability. Shannonbanks Sinn Féin Councillor James Ryan believes a shortage of the appropriate staff is a key issue. Department of Health figures published in June, meanwhile, show almost 15,300 assessment of need applications were overdue at the end of March which was up 8% on the figure for last December. The total for the Midwest region was 434, indicating a reduction of less than 2% from December. Ennis-based disability activist Dermot Hayes believes schools should offer more assistance to families struggling to manage the system.

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