I want to raise the concerning issue of waiting times for assessment of need for children in County Laois. I received a letter from the HSE dated 3 December 2025, stating that 870 children in the Laois-Offaly area are currently waiting to be reviewed by the assessment officer to determine the eligibility of progress for assessment. For those deemed eligible, the average waiting time is 21 months, almost two years, before beginning the process of accessing supports. The HSE did not provide me with specific figures but the scale of the backlog is undeniable. The families are in distress and children are being denied critical early intervention. Even more troubling is that the HSE confirmed to me that 95% of the assessments have been outsourced to private providers but waiting times are not improving. The current situation is not sustainable and urgent action is needed to ensure these children are not left behind.

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