Kildare's assessment of need (AON) backlog 'one of the largest in the country' - senator

A Kildare South senator has called for an end to the assessments of need (AON) backlog for children in the county, whom she said experience one of the largest backlogs in the country.

Speaking in the Seanad this week, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin welcomed the fact that the Minister of State and the Government had acknowledged that the current system for AON is “not fit for purpose.”

However, she stated, families in Kildare and nationwide are looking for “action”, and a clear plan to eliminate the existing backlog.

She said: “We acknowledge that there is a big backlog nationally. When we look at the figures, we can see that the scale of the backlog in CHO 7 in Kildare and west Wicklow is one of the largest in the country.

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“As of May 2025, there were 1,692 children awaiting assessments of need. The majority of those had been waiting for more than six months. That is huge. Basically, when children do not get an assessment of need in a timely manner, it means they must wait longer for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and early intervention supports. That is a major issue.

“These delays are not abstract. They have a very meaningful and negative impact on the children and their families, and undermine trust with families. It leaves families navigating crisis after crisis. It leaves them in a situation where applying for early childhood education places and primary school places is very difficult.”

Senator O'Loughlin said there is “no doubt” that families, particularly in Kildare, are being “left behind” under the current system.

The Fianna Fáil senator called for urgent reform and urgent resourcing, adding children were having to wait far too long for vital healthcare services.

She said that although very large numbers of children are waiting for services even when assessments have been carried out, “at least they are on the list at that point”, and have “a chance and an opportunity.”

Senator O'Loughlin told the Seanad there has been an increase “of about 25%” over the past two years in the number of families looking for an assessment of need.

She concluded: “Families are heartbroken because they want to do the very best for their child. Not having an assessment of need means they do not have the tools to be able to support their child in the way they wish to.”