{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/693fec53cc3f4b4c7327d9f4?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Minister Announces Reforms to Assessment of Need Process - 15/12/2025","description":"<p>Targeted reforms to improve the Assessment of Need (AON) process for children and their families have been announced.</p><p><br></p><p>Legislation will be required to introduce the reforms which Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley acknowledged would take time.</p><p><br></p><p>Minister Foley said the reforms will lead to a faster and more efficient way of carrying out AON reports, instead of \"tying up therapists' time unnecessarily\".</p><p><br></p><p>Assessment officers will be supported by 11 new teams comprising 44 experts, who will provide clinical guidance and support during the AON process.</p><p><br></p><p>Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and an administrator.</p><p><br></p><p>We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Ruairi Ó Murchú, who gave us his thoughts on this. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"lmfm "}