We have continually campaigned that the failure of the State to provide an assessment of needs was braking the law and at last the Taoiseach Admits Government Breaking Disability Law as Waiting List Surpasses 25,000
A political and legal storm is brewing following Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s public admission that the Irish State is “not in a position to fulfil the law right now” regarding its statutory obligations to children with disabilities. His remarks, captured in a tweet by TheJournal.ie, refer to the government’s failure to meet the six-month legal deadline for completing assessments of need (AON) under the Disability Act 2005.
This unprecedented acknowledgment—that the HSE is openly unable to comply with established legal timelines—has ignited outrage among families, disability advocates, and legal experts. It also confirms what thousands of parents have known for years: the system is failing their children, and the law is being routinely ignored.
As of May 2025, over 25,000 children are on waiting lists for assessments, many having waited months or even years beyond the statutory timeframe. Without these assessments, children are unable to access the speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychological services, and educational supports they urgently need.
The consequences are stark. Children fall behind in school, behavioural and developmental conditions go undiagnosed, and families are left to navigate a complex and unsupportive bureaucracy. In some cases, parents are forced to pay privately for assessments that the State is legally obliged to provide—exacerbating inequality and injustice.
The Taoiseach’s comments came as 14-year-old disability activist Aoibhe Carroll launched a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House, demanding emergency action from the government. Holding a sign that read “Taoiseach, please pay for my autism assessment,” Aoibhe has become a powerful symbol of the growing grassroots frustration with official inaction.
Campaigners are now demanding not just apologies but legally binding corrective measures: a fully funded emergency plan to clear the backlog, the recruitment of additional therapists and assessment officers, and an independent watchdog to ensure future compliance.
Legal experts point out that the State’s failure could expose it to litigation. Under the Disability Act, the six-month timeframe is not aspirational—it is enforceable. For the Taoiseach to admit it cannot be met raises serious constitutional and human rights concerns.
The campaign at dontleavethembehind.com is calling on citizens, TDs, and advocacy groups to hold the government accountable. As families across Ireland know all too well, children’s development doesn’t pause for bureaucracy. The law must be upheld—and no child should be left behind.
📩 Join the campaign: info@dontleavethembehind.com