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Teen Activist's 50-Hour Protest Demands Action on AON Crisis
8 Dec
Summary
- Teen activist plans second 50-hour sleepout protest outside Leinster House.
- Just 7% of child assessments of need (AONs) were completed on time in 2025.
- Activist calls for an immediate national and international emergency plan for therapists.
A 15-year-old activist is preparing for her second 50-hour protest sleepout outside Leinster House, drawing attention to what she terms a "national crisis" in children's assessments of need (AONs).
These assessments, legally required to be completed within six months by the HSE, are critical for identifying disabilities and service requirements. However, the waiting list for AONs surged in 2025, with a shocking 7% completion rate within the legal timeframe.
The activist, Cara Darmody, advocates for a national solution, calling for an immediate emergency plan to recruit therapists. She expressed disappointment that even a national recruitment campaign for therapists and psychologists failed to reach its target audience, including many within the HSE itself.
