Hundreds Of Kildare Children Await First Disability Team Appointment, With Some Waiting Over A Year

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 11:54

By Martin Osborne

There are 18,934 children awaiting initial assessment for speech and language therapy.

More than 3,500 children in the Kildare region are waiting to be seen by specialist disability services, as part of a nationwide backlog that has left some families in limbo for over a year.

Figures released by the HSE reveal that 3,549 children in the area covering Kildare and surrounding areas are awaiting their first appointment with a Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) - the professionals responsible for assessing and coordinating support for children with additional needs.

Without the initial assessment, children cannot access therapies like speech and language, occupational or physiotherapy, as well as psychological services.

The Labour Party’s health spokesperson, Marie Sherlock, who obtained the figures published in today's Irish Independent, said the situation is causing huge stress for families.

Kfm recently highlighted how a local father sought support from CDNT services, only to be told he could take a course.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister is defending the Government's plans for children with additional needs.

The Dail is debating a Labour Party motion calling on the Coalition to ensure every child has an appropriate school place in their area next September.

Helen McEntee says 390 new classes for children with additional needs will open next year.

But Labour’s Ged Nash says children are still being left behind:

More from Local News

Thieves Strip Copper From Bord Na Móna Site In Overnight Heist, Resulting In €40K Worth Of Damage

The intruders targeted the facility's control panels, which operate key electric motors, and proceeded to extract copper wiring from the equipment.
Thousands Of Errors Found On Electoral Register, Including Deceased And Duplicate Voters

Audio

Eleven counties have more people on the register than their entire populations.
Kildare's Naoise Ó Cearúil Appointed Fianna Fáil Spokesperson On AI And Gaeltacht

"It's a real privilege to be asked to serve in this capacity," Ó Cearúil said.
Kildare Councillors Clash Over Proposal To Set Minimum Size For New Crèches

Meanwhile, after 100 days in government the coalition is facing a backlash over the cost of childcare.
Kildare TD To Question RTÉ At Pac Committee Over €3.6m IT "Scandal"

Social Democrats Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly, who will sit on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “This latest waste of public money has only come to light because of the recent controversy surrounding the Arts Council’s abandoned €6.7 million IT system.
Heydon Calls Emergency TB Forum As Cases Surge To 20-Year High

The Minister warned that Ireland is now at a "crossroads" in its efforts to eradicate the disease, which has returned to levels last seen in 2003.
Kildare TDs Weigh In As Cabinet Debates High-Cost Housing 'Tsar'

The price tag of over 400 thousand euro is causing controversy.
After Leaving Sinn Féin And Losing Seat, Patricia Ryan Takes €48k Oireachtas Job With Ex-Party Colleague

“I’ve nothing to say on the job, other than I’m extremely happy with the job and I’m very grateful for it,” she said.