New data from the HSE shows that over 11,500 children were awaiting an initial contact from a child disability network team (CDNT) as of the end of May, reports Breaking News.
Figures seen by breakingnews.ie reveal that 11,527 children were still waiting for first contact with a CDNT. Of these, 7,802 had been waiting more than 12 months.
This marks a slight improvement from April, when 12,106 children were listed as awaiting their initial contact, reports Breaking News.
Child disability network teams (CDNTs) provide dedicated services for children who have disabilities and complex needs related to their conditions.
These teams consist of healthcare professionals with specialised skills in disability care. Their makeup includes occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and social workers, reports Breaking News.
The HSE Dublin and North East region—covering North Dublin, Meath, Louth, Monaghan and most of Cavan—had the highest number of children waiting at the end of May, with 3,086 still pending first contact. Of these, 2,274 had been waiting for more than a year.
In the HSE Dublin Midlands region, which includes areas like Dublin South City and West, South West Dublin, Kildare, West Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, 3,047 children were on the waiting list, reports Breaking News.
Of those, 2,243 had been waiting longer than 12 months to receive an initial contact.
In the HSE Dublin and South East region—covering Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and most of Wicklow—there were 2,733 children on the list at the end of May, reports Breaking News.
In this region, only 135 children had been waiting longer than a year.
The HSE Midwest region, which serves Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary, had 1,178 children waiting. Among them, 614 had been waiting over 12 months, reports Breaking News.
In the HSE West and North West, covering Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon, the number of children waiting was 878, with 324 of those waiting for more than a year.
There are currently 93 CDNTs operating nationwide, aligned with 96 Community Healthcare Networks, to provide care and support for children from birth to 18 years old, reports Breaking News.
During May 2025, 1,416 children on CDNT waiting lists participated in one or more group or individual intervention sessions.
Overall, CDNTs are supporting around 44,000 children across Ireland and are prioritising urgent cases on the waitlist where staff levels allow, reports Breaking News.
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