The Tánaiste, in response to the advocacy of a teenage activist, has pledged to simplify the therapist recruitment process for needs assessments. This commitment comes as a response to the growing wait times for assessments, which were projected to reach nearly 25,000 by the end of the year, with only 7% completed on time. The Tánaiste, Simon Harris, praised the efforts of Cara Darmody, a 15-year-old activist from Tipperary, who has been vocal about the state's failures in timely assessments for her brothers with autism and intellectual disabilities. Ms. Darmody's advocacy extends beyond her personal experiences, highlighting the broader issue of the government's recruitment processes for therapists and psychologists. Mr. Harris acknowledged the validity of her concerns, emphasizing the need for a more streamlined recruitment process. He also announced an increase in funding for 'Cara's Fund', which aims to address the backlog of needs assessments, from €10 million to €20 million as part of Budget 2026. Additionally, the government has allocated resources for 1,717 new special needs assistants, a €20 increase in the monthly Domiciliary Allowance, and 6,500 private assessments to reduce wait times. Ms. Darmody expressed hope that Mr. Harris would keep the public updated on the progress of these initiatives, emphasizing the importance of finding therapists and psychologists to address the assessment backlog effectively.
