Martin Daly: Why Disability Assessments Take 35-40 Hours
Martin Daly pressed officials on the time and effectiveness of assessment of need processes, asking whether the public sector is fit for purpose and if timelines differ from private providers. He cited figures of 35 to 40 hours per assessment, raised concerns about underinvestment in community digitalisation, and urged better communication with the NCSE.
Assessment times and productivity
Martin Daly repeatedly asked how long an assessment of need takes in the public sector and whether there is a material difference when the work is carried out by private providers. He highlighted reported averages of 35 to 40 hours and questioned whether current productivity and resource use are acceptable.
Digitalisation and community services
Daly pointed to chronic underinvestment in digitalisation, particularly in community services, and the frustration caused by multiple paper referrals. He warned that before talking about AI or other advanced tools, basic community digital infrastructure must be addressed.
Impact on families and NCSE communication
The address stressed the human consequences: delays and siloised processes leave families waiting and frustrated. Daly welcomed moves toward direct communication with the NCSE as a necessary step to reduce breakdowns between services.
Questions of reform
Daly pressed whether the assessment of need system is fit for purpose and whether it needs reform, asking officials for clearer averages, timelines and accountability to ensure the process works for children and families.
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Again, this is, I don't know the answer to this, there's no trap in this. The assessment of need, it has been alluded to by Deputy Carragher here, and again by Deputy Moraku. The assessment need, is it fit for purpose? Does it need reform? How long does an assessment need in the public sector take when you put it out to the private sector to be done? Is there a difference, is there a material time difference between the two assessments? It's very much dependent on the child and where, the needs of that child. But no, we're really short on time, this is really important. How long does an assessment of need take place in the public sector? How many hours does it take to do an assessment of need? It varies, it varies from the child. On average? Because it depends, there's no, you know, I wouldn't have that detail, but like what's important is some of these children who are... Has it been reviewed? Has it been reviewed and is it open to reform? Because it seems to, it takes, I've been told it takes 35 to 40 hours to do an assessment of need. Is that right? Figures like that. Yeah, so I mean, I'm having difficulty, now this is not part of the, I'm having difficulty that you're not able to say to me what the average time is and is there a difference between, because I picked up on this from Deputy Carragher, is there a difference between productivity in the public sector and in the private sector because this is really key. I think one thing is that if someone applies for assessment of needs, they already have a CD&T waiting list. When my information takes 35 to 40 hours to do an assessment of need, so what's the average approximately? Mean, average? The assessment of need, when you open it, it may depend on a varying number of assessments to be done to make that distinguishment on the Act. So it's not just, this is exactly how long it's going to take. I'll take that as you can't give me the answer. Is that fair? That's not the thing. I'll just come again, it comes to productivity again. There's a significant resource going into disability now, but also into the health services as well. Digitalisation, why are we so far behind? Well, we certainly are far behind. That's the bottom line. We haven't had... Like 25 different paper referrals. You can understand why people get absolutely frustrated. Yeah, completely. Why I have no hair. Yeah, and this is part of the challenge. We have had an underinvestment in digitalisation, particularly in community services. So we are very reliant in community... Do you think AI will have a part to play in streamlining appointments? I think in time it will, but we are at a point now where we need to really just get to first base with a lot of the community digitalisation. I'm out of time, but I'm sorry for interrupting. I just want to say that it is welcome if this happens, that there will be direct communication with NCSE as well, because that's another ball of contention and a breakdown and siloisation of disability.
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