Teen disability activist starts 50-hour sleep-out during Storm Bram

James Cox

Teen disability activist Cara Darmody has started a 50-hour sleep-out at Leinster House to raise awareness around delays in assessment of need appointments.

The protest is over what she calls a “national crisis” in assessments of need (AONs).

An AON is carried out to identify if a child or young person has a disability and is designed to identify their health needs as well as service requirements.

Once the HSE receives an application, there is a legal requirement for the AON to be completed within six months.

The waiting list for AONs has soared over 2025, with just 7 per cent being completed on time.

Cara Darmody, 15, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, has long criticised State failures in delivering assessments on time.

She staged a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House in May and is repeating the demonstration on Tuesday.

Ms Darmody has said she will go ahead with the protest despite the poor weather as a result of Storm Bram.

"The weather forecast is saying the gusts could reach 90-100km/h here in Dublin, so look, it's not going to be easy but I'm ready for the challenge and I'm determined to do this," she told RTÉ News.

"It's going to be really, really tough. But I'm ok with that because I know why I'm doing it. I'm not doing it because the weather is good, I'm doing it to help those who cannot fight back for themselves. I have a voice and I want to use my voice."