Latest news with #DisabilityAct
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
No immediate solution: Mary Regan on growing political problem around assessment of needs
And that was just from the Government benches. Children's Minister Norma Foley got ahead of a combined opposition joint motion on the issue with a press conference that started with the declaration: 'The system is a broken system.' But when it came to what is to be done about it, the minister, and the political system as a whole, are far less certain. Under the Disability Act, children are entitled to an assessment in a timeframe of six months. But that legal obligation is only being met in 7pc of cases. So 93pc of children are not being assessed in the statutory timeline, which was put in place for a good reason: because timely intervention is a vital component in ensuring better outcomes for a child where a disability or neurodivergence is identified.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Indian Express
Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in UPSC cheating case
The Supreme Court Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in UPSC cheating case in which she was accused of submitting fake disability certificates. An FIR was registered against Khedkar in July 2024 under charges of forgery, cheating, violations of the IT Act, and the Disability Act, based on a written complaint filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). On April 21, the Supreme Court had directed Khedkar to appear before the Crime Branch for questioning on May 2 and ordered the police not to take any 'coercive steps' against her. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju had informed the court that her custodial interrogation was necessary to identify the individuals who assisted her in obtaining and preparing the fake disability certificates. On May 2, she appeared before a Delhi Police Crime Branch team at the Kamla Market office around 10 a.m. and remained there for around eight hours. 'She was asked multiple questions related to the case. She was also requested to submit certain documents,' officials said.
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Cara Darmody begins 50-hour protest to highlight disability assessment delays
Tipperary youngster Cara Darmody has vowed to "win and end disability discrimination" as she begins a 50-hour protest at the gates of Leinster House. Cara, aged 14, from Ardfinnan in Co Tipperary, said the Disability Act has been "systemically broken" for almost a decade as delays for assessments of needs look set to reach 25,000. Cara was initially motivated to pursue her advocacy because her two brothers — 12-year-old Neil and 8-year-old John — are autistic and have severe to profound intellectual disabilities. The issue of the backlog will be raised today throughout the Dáil schedule, with the opposition backing a Sinn Féin motion on the issue. An assessment of need is carried out to identify if a child, children, or young person has a disability. It 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 assessment of needs to be completed within six months. The number of applications overdue for completion at the end of March 2025 stood at 15,296 — an 8% increase on the figure from the end of 2024. However, throughout the first quarter of this year, just 7% of assessments were completed within the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005 and its accompanying regulations. In response to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Alan Kelly, the HSE said demand for the assessments continues to outstrip system capacity — despite increases in activity and commissions to private assessors. The HSE anticipates that, by the end of the year, there could be as many as 24,796 assessments due for completion.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘It's a national disgrace' – teenager to start 50-hour protest at Dáil as child disability assessment waiting list continues to soar
An assessment of need (AON) is carried out to identify if a child 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. The total number of applications overdue for completion at the end of March stood at 15,296 – an 8pc rise on the end of last year. Last week, the Irish Independent revealed that just 7pc of assessments are being carried out within the legally required timeframe of six months. In response to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Alan Kelly, the HSE said that demand for AONs continues to outstrip system capacity, despite increases in activity and commissions from private assessors. The HSE anticipates that by the end of the year there could be as many as 24,796 AONs due for completion. Cara Darmody (14) is staging a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House from 10am today, against the backlog in the system. The disability rights campaigner will be supported by what she calls her 'coalition of the willing' made up of a combined opposition of Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity, Independent Ireland, Aontú and others. Cara, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, said the Disability Act has been 'broken' for almost a decade. 'It is a national disgrace and an international embarrassment in how we treat children in Ireland with autism or intellectual disabilities. It must end – right here, right now.' ADVERTISEMENT Cara was initially motivated to pursue her advocacy because her two brothers Neil (12) and John (8) have autism and intellectual disabilities. She said they were 'both failed dramatically by the State' in relation to the assessments and services they received. 'Every single day in our house is a struggle, and my mam and dad often go days without getting any sleep whatsoever.' However, she stressed that her advocacy is focused on the national picture rather than solely on her brothers' experiences. 'There are thousands of children rotting on waiting lists and thousands of families who are struggling and too scared to stand up to the Government,' she said. The combined opposition will bring a motion before the Dáil tonight, coinciding with Cara's demonstration, calling for an emergency fund to clear the backlog and to provide children with the assessments they are entitled to. The Government will not oppose the motion, but will promise to bring in wholesale changes to the AON system. Children's Minister, Norma Foley, is expected to say that legislation will be brought forward this year. Other reforms, including hiring more therapists will be 'progressed as quickly as possible'.
The Journal
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Teenager to begin 50 hour protest outside Leinster House over assessments of needs wait times
TEENAGE CAMPAIGNER CARA Darmody will begin a 50-hour protest outside Dáil Éireann today over the Government's failure to deliver assessments of needs (AON) on time. The 14-year old, who has two brothers with severe autism, has spearheaded a campaign to compel the Government to improve access to services for people with disabilities. Darmody said the main focus of her campaign is on the fact that the Government is breaking the law in relation to the delivery of assessments of needs. 'Assessments of needs' are formal procedures set out under the Disability Act 2005 that are intended to identify a child's health and educational needs. The HSE is legally obliged to carry out a full assessment within six months of receiving an application. This should then be followed up with any additional services required. An assessment is not required to access services, however, in practice it is a key element in getting a child into the system. A recent response to a parliamentary question revealed that just 7% of assessments were completed within the six-month timeframe, while over 15,000 children are currently overdue an assessment. Advertisement 'By not assessing autistic children within 6 months in 93% of cases means that the Disability Act law is being systematically broken, and this has been going on for almost a decade. 'It is not acceptable in my book – how can the Cabinet expect teenagers like me to obey the laws of our land, when they are the ones that break a law openly and with impunity,' Darmody said in a statement ahead of today's protest. Darmody's protest today comes as the Dáil is set to hear hours of statements on the issue alongside a cross-party Opposition motion on the issue following a successful campaign from the teenager. The motion comes after Opposition party leaders met with Darmody in recent weeks. She also spoke to Children's Minister Norma Foley in recent days. 'The initial motivation for my advocacy was because I have two brothers, Neil (12) and John (8), who have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities. 'They were both failed dramatically by the State in relation to the assessments and services that they received. There is nothing in my advocacy for them, I now do it for the national picture,' Darmody said ahead of today's protest. The teenager is calling for the Government to declare a national emergency and stop breaking the law in relation to assessments of needs. She is also asking for the creation of a task force to examine and remove barriers that exist in relation to employment in the sector, and additional funding for 'Cara's Fund'. 'Cara's Fund' was so named by then Taoiseach Simon Harris in October 2024 when he allocated an additional €10m towards dealing with the backlog of assessments. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
