Over 10,000 children waiting for first contact from disability teams

Michael Bolton

Figures from the HSE show that 10,099 children were waiting for first contact with a Child Disability Network Team (CDNT) at the end of September.

This is a drop from the 10,714 children waiting for first contact at the end of June.

In a document seen by BreakingNews.ie, 6,593 children are waiting over 12 months for first contact.

According to the HSE, CDNTs are currently providing services and supports for 44,440 children. This is an increase of 440 children since June.

CDNTs are teams of health and social care professionals, including nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy.

1,283 children who are on the CDNT waiting list participated in one or more individual and/or group intervention appointments during September 2025.

The area with the highest number of children waiting for first contact is HSE Dublin Midlands, with 2,642 children on waiting lists and 1,905 waiting over a year.

This area covers Dublin South City and West and Dublin South West, Kildare, West Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford, and Westmeath.

The next highest area with the highest number of children waiting for first contact from a team is HSE Dublin and North East, covering North Dublin, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, and most of Cavan.

In this area, 2,554 children are waiting for first contact, with 1,768 waiting over 12 months.

At HSE Dublin and South East, covering Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and most of Wicklow, 2,458 children are waiting for contact, with 1,892 waiting over 12 months.

In HSE Midlands, providing care for Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary, 1261 are on waiting lists, 679 of which are waiting over 12 months.

At HSE South West, covering Cork and Kerry, 644 children are on waiting lists, with 187 waiting over a year for first contact from a team.

In HSE West and North West, covering Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, 540 children are still waiting, 162 for over a year.