logo
Cara sees our daily struggle but fights for all families, says dad of teen holding 50-hr Dail protest over autism delays

Cara sees our daily struggle but fights for all families, says dad of teen holding 50-hr Dail protest over autism delays

The Irish Sun14-05-2025

THE father of a teenage disability campaigner who is coming out of 'advocacy retirement' to stage a sleep-out protest at Leinster House next week has hailed his daughter's achievements.
4
Cara Darmody is planning a 50-hour protest outside the Dail
Credit: Collins Photos
4
Cara's brother John with his autism assistance dog
4
Cara's other brother Neil also has autism
The second-year student has already met with
Speaking to
Mark told us: 'Her achievements and her records are huge.
READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS
'We have to take into account that she did get €10 million of government funding, credited to her solely, last October from then Taoiseach Simon Harris.
'She has a record of actually getting huge success from the government. So, I suppose she felt that she needed to do something different and quite dramatic to get systematic change.
'While the then Taoiseach gave €10 million, which was extremely welcome at the time, and I think three and a half thousand children have benefited from that to date.
'The problem is, is that there's no system change. So the numbers are now going back up. So it's going in one direction and it's not a good direction.'
Most read in The Irish Sun
The proud dad, 49, added: 'Cara feels that if she doesn't step in now and get them back to the table, then this is going to be like the Titanic in six months time or in one year's time.
'She felt, to use her words, that she had to come out of advocacy retirement.'
Playing with dolls can help your child's social development – even if they have autism, study finds
An Assessment of Need (AON) - as outlined in the Disability Act 2005 - is an assessment carried out by the
These assessments should start within three months and be completed within a further three months, giving a six month overall timeframe.
However, the Dail heard in February of this year that 90 per cent of assessments were being completed outside these legal requirements outlined in the Disability Act.
The Social Democrats' Cian O'Callaghan told the
PROTEST PLANS
As part of new action, Cara will sleep in a tent outside Leinster House from 10am on Tuesday May 20 until 12pm on Thursday May 22, in a 50-hour protest.
Last June Cara vowed to protest outside the Dail every day until the General Election if progress was not made on assessment waiting times.
The protest - which saw Cara sit outside Leinster House with a sign reading 'Taoiseach please pay for all autism assessments and services' - resulted in the brave teenager meeting with then Taoiseach Simon Harris.
She was also flown to the US by actor
FAMILY SUPPORT
The schoolgirl - who has brothers Neil, 12, and John, eight, both with severe autism - will study for her second year school summer exams from her tent during the protest next week and dad Mark will accompany his brave daughter during the protest, while mum Noelle holds the fort at home.
"Cara feels that if she doesn't step in now and get them back to the table, then this is going to be like the Titanic in six months time or in one year's time."
Mark Darmody
Looking ahead to next week's action Mark told us: 'She just wants to hold them to account next week on the breaking of the law.
'And I think that those are the words you're going to hear very substantially from her next week. 'you're breaking the law'.'
He added: 'They just seem unable to treat this like a national crisis to get something done about it. And that's your issue there.'
NO NERVES
And the doting dad revealed his daughter is not nervous ahead of the protest next week and is instead excited to help people.
He explained: 'She gets so excited at the thought of helping other people. She really does, because there's nothing in this for her. We're not looking for anything for our family.'
As a father to two boys with intellectual disabilities Mark admitted their family know the struggle facing thousands across the country.
But he stressed Cara's fight is not for their family but for change on a national level.
'FAMILY SUFFERS'
He said: 'We kind of forget that we're just ordinary parents, our family suffers the same as everyone else.
'So Cara sees our struggles on a daily basis, struggles that a family shouldn't have to go through. She doesn't fight our battles for us, nor is she involved in those.
'Her advocacy, that's not about her brothers. She's had this in her head for some years now to tackle the national advocacy. We are immensely proud of her.'
4
Care was Colin Farrell's keynote speaker at his Foundation for Intellectual Disability's Gala

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ireland's skies will be ‘as busy as our roads' with millions of drone deliveries as noise pollution concerns raised
Ireland's skies will be ‘as busy as our roads' with millions of drone deliveries as noise pollution concerns raised

The Irish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Ireland's skies will be ‘as busy as our roads' with millions of drone deliveries as noise pollution concerns raised

IRELAND'S skies could become as busy as our roads due to drones being used to deliver 'burgers and lattes', the Dail heard today. Drone company Manna has teamed up with fast 1 Over 2 million drone deliveries are expected Credit: Getty Images - Getty Several TDs today raised concerns from their constituents about noise pollution caused by delivery Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger took out her phone during the The She claimed that Ireland's 'skies are going to become as busy as our roads' as she questioned why private companies should have the right to be using drones to make deliveries. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS She said: 'Manna Drone Delivery began operating in Blanchardstown and it, apparently, has 170,000 drone flights done. 'The plan is for two million. The company has now linked up with the massive multinational, 'Let us be clear: the company is not delivering blood or medicine, it is delivering burgers and lattes for profit.' Most read in Irish News He claimed the Government has not kept pace with the industry on regulation as he raised concerns about noise pollution and the impact drones could have on bird and bat species. Deputy Gannon asked the Minister for Why US army is turning to 'snipers in the sky' in largest overhaul since Cold War Junior Transport Minister Jerry Buttimer told the Dail that However, he acknowledged the point about noise pollution raised by the Dublin TDs and said he will take them back to the Department for consideration.

Government has ‘systematically smashed' disability laws for children, teen tells Oireachtas
Government has ‘systematically smashed' disability laws for children, teen tells Oireachtas

Sunday World

time6 hours ago

  • Sunday World

Government has ‘systematically smashed' disability laws for children, teen tells Oireachtas

Cara Darmody, 14, addressed the Oireachtas Disability Committee on Wednesday about the backlog in the assessment of need (AON) system. Campaigner Cara Darmody staged a 50-hour protest against the backlog in the assessment of needs system (Liam McBurney/PA) The Government has "systematically smashed" disability laws on important checks for children, a teenage campaigner has told the Oireachtas. Cara Darmody, 14, addressed the Oireachtas Disability Committee on Wednesday about the backlog in the assessment of need (AON) system. An AON is carried out to identify if a child, children or young person has a disability, and is designed to identify their health needs as well as service requirements. Once the HSE receives an application, there is a legal requirement for the AON to be completed within six months. On the possibility of changes to the laws being in train, Cara said she would "vigorously resist any negative change" to the six-month timeframe, saying she believed it would cause "further permanent damage to children". The total number of applications overdue for completion at the end of March 2025 stood at 15,296, an 8% rise on the end of 2024. Throughout the first quarter of this year, just 7% of assessments were completed within the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005 and accompanying regulations. The HSE said that demand for AONs continues to outstrip system capacity, despite increases in activity and commissions from private assessors. The health service anticipates that by the end of the year there could be as many as 24,796 AONs due for completion. Opposition parties including Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity, Independent Ireland and Aontu have supported Cara's campaign. Last month she staged a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House. She was initially motivated to pursue her advocacy because her two brothers have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities. Speaking at Committee, Cara said: "My own story is very simple, I have two brothers Neil, 12, and John, eight, who are autistic and severely and profoundly intellectually disabled. "They were both failed dramatically by the state in relation to assessments and services, and Neil remains in an inappropriate school place. "Our story is the story of so many thousands of other families. I cannot do anything to change the permanent damage caused to Neil and John, but I can advocate to stop damage being done to autistic children in the future." She said Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the wider Government are breaking the law over the delivery of AONs. Campaigner Cara Darmody staged a 50-hour protest against the backlog in the assessment of needs system (Liam McBurney/PA) News in 90 Seconds - June 11th "Three different taoisigh have made promises to me to fix this issue, and all have dramatically failed." She added: "Let me explain how they're breaking the law. The Disability Act of 2005, an Act created by this House, states that an assessment of need must be carried out within six months, full-stop. "That six-month timeframe is there because every single person knows that early intervention is the key. "It's also generally accepted that when early intervention doesn't occur, that damage is caused to children with disabilities. It's a no-brainer." Cara said she was shocked that Mr Martin would not declare a national emergency over the matter. She said the Taoiseach should also set up a taskforce to address the matter, and increase financing for "Cara's Fund".

Government has ‘systematically smashed' disability laws for children, teen campaigner tells Oireachtas
Government has ‘systematically smashed' disability laws for children, teen campaigner tells Oireachtas

Irish Independent

time6 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Government has ‘systematically smashed' disability laws for children, teen campaigner tells Oireachtas

Cara Darmody, 14, addressed the Oireachtas Disability Committee on Wednesday about the backlog in the assessment of need (AON) system. An AON is carried out to identify if a child, children or young person has a disability, and is designed to identify their health needs as well as service requirements. Once the HSE receives an application, there is a legal requirement for the AON to be completed within six months. On the possibility of changes to the laws being in train, Cara said she would "vigorously resist any negative change" to the six-month timeframe, saying she believed it would cause "further permanent damage to children". The total number of applications overdue for completion at the end of March 2025 stood at 15,296, an 8% rise on the end of 2024. Throughout the first quarter of this year, just 7% of assessments were completed within the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005 and accompanying regulations. The HSE said that demand for AONs continues to outstrip system capacity, despite increases in activity and commissions from private assessors. The health service anticipates that by the end of the year there could be as many as 24,796 AONs due for completion. Opposition parties including Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity, Independent Ireland and Aontu have supported Cara's campaign. Last month she staged a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House. She was initially motivated to pursue her advocacy because her two brothers have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities. Speaking at Committee, Cara said: "My own story is very simple, I have two brothers Neil, 12, and John, eight, who are autistic and severely and profoundly intellectually disabled. "They were both failed dramatically by the state in relation to assessments and services, and Neil remains in an inappropriate school place. "Our story is the story of so many thousands of other families. I cannot do anything to change the permanent damage caused to Neil and John, but I can advocate to stop damage being done to autistic children in the future." She said Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the wider Government are breaking the law over the delivery of AONs. "Three different taoisigh have made promises to me to fix this issue, and all have dramatically failed." She added: "Let me explain how they're breaking the law. The Disability Act of 2005, an Act created by this House, states that an assessment of need must be carried out within six months, full-stop. "That six-month timeframe is there because every single person knows that early intervention is the key. "It's also generally accepted that when early intervention doesn't occur, that damage is caused to children with disabilities. It's a no-brainer." Cara said she was shocked that Mr Martin would not declare a national emergency over the matter. She said the Taoiseach should also set up a taskforce to address the matter, and increase financing for "Cara's Fund".

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store