{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/6a54b4dc420a266ecbba179b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Cara Darmody's 50-Hour Fight for Ireland's Forgotten Children Living With Autism & Intellectual Disabilites - 13/07/2026","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/1783934834758-f32d88f9-61eb-4f4a-a861-79aaa0a56998.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Fifteen-year-old disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody is preparing to spend 50 hours protesting outside the gates of Leinster House in a renewed effort to force action on the country's Assessment of Needs system.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Beginning on Tuesday, Cara plans to sleep in a tent outside the Dáil for two nights, calling on the Government to introduce legally binding timelines to tackle growing delays.</p><p><br></p><p>The protest comes as the latest figures show that more than 21,700 children are waiting beyond the statutory six-month deadline for an Assessment of Needs. Cara, whose campaigning previously helped secure the creation of \"Cara's Fund\" with more than €30 million in Government funding, says more urgent action is now needed.</p><p><br></p><p>Cara Darmody joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us why she's returning to Leinster House and what she hopes this latest protest will achieve.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"lmfm "}