18% Vacancy Rate Drives 8,200-Child Waiting List in Ireland’s CDNTs

For HR directors and talent strategists, the CDNT staffing crisis is a real-world case study in the operational and human cost of vacancy. An 18% deficit translates directly into thousands of delayed interventions for vulnerable children, while burning out existing staff and making the roles even harder to fill. How can public sector employers compete for scarce occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and psychologists in a tight labour market?

Ireland's Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) are facing a stark mismatch between demand for early intervention services and workforce capacity, with 8,200 children waiting for their first contact as of the end of March 2026. Of those, a staggering 5,261—or 64%—have been waiting for over 12 months, according to figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE). While this represents a slight improvement from the 8,648 children waiting at the close of 2025, the sheer scale of the backlog underscores a persistent and systemic shortfall in staffing. The latest workforce report, from October 2025, recorded an 18% vacancy rate across CDNTs, with 457 funded posts remaining unfilled. This chronic under-resourcing directly fuels the waiting lists, leaving thousands of families without timely access to vital therapies such as speech and language, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and psychology.

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Of those, a staggering 5,261—or 64%—have been waiting for over 12 months, according to figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The spatial inequality in access is pronounced. The HSE Dublin Midlands Regional Healthcare Area (RHA) carries the heaviest burden, with 2,252 children awaiting initial assessment—1,669 of them for longer than a year. Nearby, HSE Dublin and South East reports 2,078 children waiting (1,432 over 12 months), while HSE Dublin and North East counts 1,908 (1,269 long-waiting). These three regions alone account for over 75% of the total national list. In contrast, HSE South West (Cork and Kerry) has 401 children waiting, and HSE West and North West just 452, reflecting significant regional disparities in service pressure and, likely, staffing availability.

The CDNT model, operating under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People programme, relies on a network of 93 teams led by statutory and non-statutory providers. The HSE directly manages 43 teams, Enable Ireland supports 20, and Brothers of Charity operate six. Even among the largest Section 39 and Section 38 agencies, workforce gaps are evident: Enable Ireland, with a funded allocation of 502.3 whole-time equivalents, reported only 85% of positions filled; Brothers of Charity, with 208.9 funded WTE, achieved 89%. These figures confirm that even well-established provider organizations struggle to attract and retain qualified allied health professionals, including therapists, psychologists, and social workers.

The implications for children and families are profound. Early intervention for disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays is clinically proven to improve long-term outcomes. A wait of 12 months or more can mean missing critical developmental windows, potentially leading to more severe challenges and higher lifetime care costs. For families, the stress and uncertainty of prolonged waiting can exacerbate mental health challenges and financial strain, as many seek private assessments and therapies at considerable personal expense.