GP and Public Health Nurse

Your GP or Public Health Nurse (PHN) should be the first port of call to discuss concerns you have about your child’s development or motor skills, learning, emotions and behaviour. Your GP or Public Health Nurse will signpost to the appropriate service.

Public & Free Services

Primary Care

Access to Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), Occupational Therapy (OT) or Physiotherapy (PT) support. Parents can refer directly to their local health centre if they have concerns.

OT:  Focuses on the development of skills in everyday self-care, school and leisure activities such as dressing, eating, handwriting and riding a bike.

PT:  Focuses on helping children with musculoskeletal conditions or children experiencing delays in developing gross motor skills achieve their optimal physical development.

SLT:  Support when there are concerns about speech delay or communication difficulties.

Psychology:  Support for children, young people and their families with mild to moderate psychological difficulties/parenting concerns that would benefit from short-term intervention e.g. bereavement or anxiety.

Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT)

CDNT provides specialised support and services for children who have a disability and complex health needs associated with their disability. The team supports a child’s development, well-being and participation in family and community life. The team typically include occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, social workers, speech and language therapists and can have access to paediatrician, nursing, dieticians, family support workers and other specialist support services. Click here for more information. 

There are very long lists for intervention in CDNTs which is an enormous source of stress and distress for parents. Referral information available here

Find your local CDNT service

Assessment of Need (AON)

The Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005 under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The AON process aims to identify the health and education needs of children and young people as set out in the Disability Act 2005. 

If a parent/guardian makes an application to the HSE for an AON, this application is reviewed by an Assessment Officer, who decides whether the child or young person is likely to have a disability.

To apply for an assessment, find contact details for your local Assessment Officer here

You can also download the AON form and post this to the local Assessment Officer.

There are long waiting lists for AON, which is a source of great stress and distress for parents. It is important to remember that an AON is not necessary to access health services as a child can be referred directly to primary care or CDNT.

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

CAMHS offer specialised assessment and treatment for a range of young people and their families with mental health difficulties. CAMHS offer assessment to children and young people identified by their GP as experiencing mental health difficulties that are having a moderate to severe impact on their quality of life. CAMHS is made up of teams of professionals who are trained in the area of mental health like psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and speech & language therapists. Information on local CAMHS available here.

National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

NEPS is a service provided by the Department of Education and Skills. NEPS psychologists work with both primary and post-primary schools and are concerned with learning, behaviour and social & emotional development. Each NEPS psychologist is assigned to a group of schools. NEPS work with teachers, parents and children to help all children develop to their potential. NEPS offer a range of services supporting individual students, providing advice and support to schools and support schools to cope when tragedies happen.

 If you think your child needs to be seen by a NEPS Psychologist begin by discussing your child’s needs with the class teacher or school principal. Not every child needs to meet a NEPS psychologist in person. Each school makes referrals to their NEPS psychologist who helps the school to plan the work required. NEPS guidance and advice available here.

The National Council of Special Education have developed a guidance document on supporting special educational needs

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) have detailed resources for parents of primary school children.

Private and Paid Services

Due to the long wait times for many public services, many parents look to private and paid services for support.

Private Psychiatry

Psychiatrist is a medical professional who has trained as a medical doctor and completed internship before undergoing specialist training in Psychiatry. Psychiatrists can diagnose a range of mental health needs including neurodevelopmental difficulties such as Autism and ADHD. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication. A GP referral is required to access a private psychiatrist.

Private Paediatrician

Paediatrician is a medical professional who has trained as a medical doctor and completed an internship before undergoing specialist training in General Paediatrics and subspecialties. Paediatricians can diagnose and treat a wide range of medical, developmental and neurological conditions including Autism and ADHD. A GP referral is required to access a private paediatrician.

Private Psychology

A psychologist is a health and social care professional trained in the study of emotions, thinking and learning, and behaviour. Psychologists can provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of psychological needs and neurodevelopmental difficulties; only psychologists can complete assessments of intellectual ability (IQ). Psychologists do not prescribe medication.

Psychology is not currently regulated in Ireland and the title Psychologist is not protected. Parents have to be careful when selecting a psychologist to provide assessment or intervention for their child. Psychologists working with children and young people tend to be titled Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, Educational Psychologist or Paediatric Neuropsychologist. These professionals train for a minimum of 7 years, often between 9 and 12 years, and will have an undergraduate degree, a masters and/or a doctorate. Psychologists working in public service must be eligible for Chartered Membership of Psychological Society Ireland (PSI). Appropriately qualified psychologists providing private assessment and intervention should be happy to provide evidence of their qualifications and register as Chartered Psychologist with PSI.

Professional psychology is a wide field, and professional psychologists should only provide assessment and intervention in areas in which they have the appropriate experience and expertise.  Qualified psychologists working within their competence will be happy to explain in detail their level of experience in assessing the particular difficulties your child has. Any psychologist who is unhappy to answer these questions is a psychologist to avoid, regardless of waiting lists elsewhere. Psychology assessments can cost between €600 and €2000 depending on the child’s presenting difficulties and level of diagnostic assessment required. You should know that the assessment you have paid for was completed by an appropriately qualified psychologist with the requisite expertise to assess you child’s needs.

The Psychological Society Ireland provides a register of Chartered Psychologists which can be searched here.

Private Therapy with Health and Social Care Professional (HSCPs)

Many parents of children with identified neurodevelopmental difference seek support from health and social care professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians and speech and language therapists. CORU is the regulator for health workers and social care professionals. Its role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals. CORU maintains a register of therapists in these regulated fields, you should ensure that any therapist working with your child is registered with CORU by checking the register.

Private Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is concerned with the assessment and treatment of speech, language and communication problems in people of all ages to help them better communicate. Speech and language therapists also work with people who have eating and swallowing problems.

All practising speech and language therapists in public and/or private practice must be registered with CORU. The Independent Speech-Language Therapists in Ireland (ISTI) has a directory of member therapists in private practice.

Private Occupational Therapy

Paediatric Occupational Therapy focuses on enabling participation in childhood occupations such as play and school and supporting the development of everyday independence skills including skills in self-care dressing, eating, handwriting and riding a bike. Occupational therapy assessment can include formal assessment of motor, visual-motor skills and handwriting.

All practising occupational therapists must be registered with CORU. The Association of Occupational Therapists Ireland (AOTI) has a directory of members in private practice.

Private Physiotherapy

Paediatric physiotherapists have specialist knowledge in movement, physical development and conditions that are likely to affect the growing child. Paediatric physiotherapy focuses on helping children with musculoskeletal conditions or children experiencing delays in developing gross motor skills achieve their optimal physical development.

All practicing physiotherapists must be registered with CORU. The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) has a directory of members in private practice.

Private Dietitian

Dietitians are qualified health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems. Dietetic consultation may be of particular value to support dietary needs arising from sensory sensitivities.

All practising dietitians/dieticians must be registered with CORU. The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI) is the professional body for registered dietitians in Ireland and has a  directory of members in private practice.