Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that the fact that over three thousand children are waiting on an Assessment of Need for disability services in the CHO7 area which covers south Dublin, Kildare, and West Wicklow, is proof positive that this Government has utterly abandoned its responsibility towards our children.

Figures released by the HSE show that in the CHO7 area, there are 3,086 applications outstanding as of the start of August, with only 125 in progress.

Teachta Crowe said:

“Figures released by the HSE show that in the CHO7 area, which includes south Dublin, Kildare, and West Wicklow, there are 3,086 applications for a child’s Assessment of Need for disability services outstanding as of the start of August, with only 125 in progress.

“This is a staggering figure and is proof positive that this Government has utterly abandoned its responsibility towards our children.

“Some of these applications date back to January 2020 and to force a child and their family to wait for that length of time just to find out if they’re eligible for supports is simply inhumane.

“We cannot have families waiting over two years just to find out if they’re allowed join another queue to access services and to wait for as long or even longer.

“Just like with the nurses, doctors and every other part of the health service, we are looking at a total collapse in the ability to recruit and retain staff. That is what leads to waiting lists and backlogs. The only people surprised by this is the Government.

“We train thousands of healthcare professionals every year and then drive them overseas by treating their colleagues in Ireland terribly through appalling working conditions and substandard pay.

“I am tired of a Government that only seeks to protect itself and the rest of the wealthy elite, while children and their families wait in suffering for years. We badly need a change in this country and that will never come from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.”