Over 12,000 children waiting for first contact from disability teams

Michael Bolton

Over 12,000 children are waiting for their first contact with Child Disability Network Team (CDNT).

Figures from the HSE, seen by Breakingnews, show that at the end of April, 12,106 children were waiting for their first contact from a CDNT.

Of that figure, 8298 children are waiting over a year for first contact.

Of the six Regional Healthcare Areas (RHAs),  HSE Dublin and North East have the longest waiting list, with 3841 children waiting for first contact, with 2980 waiting over 12 months for contact from a CDNT.

1506 children are waiting between seven to 12 months to hear from a CDNT.

In Dublin Midlands, there is 3035 children waiting for first contact, with 2116 children waiting over a year.

The HSE Dublin and South East region has 2707 children waiting for first contact, with 2112 waiting over 12 months for first contact.

This area covers South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and most areas of Wicklow.

In the HSE Midwest, which provides care to Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary, 1070 children is waiting for first contact, with 530 waiting over a year.

The HSE West and North West, which covers Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, has 819 children on the waiting list, with 290 waiting over a year.

In the HSE South West, covering Cork and Kerry, 634 children is waiting for first contact, with 270 waiting over a year.

There are 93 CDNTs, aligned to 96 Community Healthcare Networks across the country, providing services and supports for children aged from birth to 18 years of age.

The CDNTs are currently providing services and supports for 43,000 children and strategies and supports for urgent
cases on the waitlist where staffing resources allow.

The HSE have said CDNTs face significant challenges, including staffing vacancies, growth in the numbers of children with complex needs as a result of their disability, and growth in demand for Assessment of Need, diverting further resources away from interventions.

1,233 children and/or their parents who are on the CDNT waiting list participated in one or more individual and/or group intervention appointments during April 2025.