Over 20,000 Irish children were overdue for disability assessments by end-2025, with most waiting over three months.

Over 20,000 children in Ireland were overdue for a Disability Assessment of Need (AoN) by the end of 2025, with 16,960 waiting over three months, according to HSE data. New applications rose 23% to 13,186, and while 5,949 assessments were completed—up 43% from 2024—only 9.4% met the six-month deadline. The highest backlogs were in the HSE Dublin and Midlands and Dublin and North East regions. The percentage of assessments concluding with 'No Disability' increased to 29% in 2025, up from 15.8% in 2010. To address delays, the HSE plans to launch a Single Point of Referral for children’s services and expand staffing in Dublin and Cork.