Nearly 11,000 children waiting for first contact from disability teams

Figures from the HSE show 10,961 children are waiting for first contact from a Child Disability Network Team (CDNT) at the end of June.

This is a drop from the 11,527 children at the end of May.

Of the 10,961 children waiting for first contact, 7167 are waiting over a year.

1,205 children (&/or their parents) who are on the CDNT waiting list participated in one or more individual and/or group intervention appointments during June 2025.

The regional healthcare area with the most children waiting for first contact from a CDNT is HSE Dublin and North East, with 2926 children. 2054 are waiting over 12 months.

This area covers North Dublin, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and most areas of Cavan.

In HSE Dublin Midlands, covering Dublin South City and West and Dublin South West, Kildare, West Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, there are 2866 waiting for first contact.

2087 children are waiting over 12 months in this area.

In HSE Dublin and South East, which provides care to South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and most areas of Wicklow, 2593 children are waiting for first contact.

1977 children are waiting over 12 months.

In HSE Mid West, which provides health and social care services to Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary, there was 1152 children waiting for first contact in June, with 616 children waiting over 12 months.

At HSE West and North West, which includes Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, 779 children are waiting for first contact from a CDNT.

While in HSE South West, covering Cork and Kerry, 625 children are on a waiting list.

The CDNTs are currently providing services and supports for 44,000 children and strategies and supports for urgent cases on the waitlist where staffing resources allow.

The model of service for all CDNTs is family-centred and based on the needs of the child. This includes universal, targeted and specialised supports and interventions, as appropriate to the individual child and family.