The Government has given a commitment to examine funding of private assessments for children with special needs who are waiting to be seen by specialists.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that he has no ideological issue with the move as the State already uses private practice in other areas such as pharmacy, dentistry and through the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
The commitment came after two hours of debate on the issue in the Dáil where the scale of the delays being faced by families was outlined.
Labour TD Duncan Smith said: "There are 14,891 children waiting for psychology appointment; 15,305 children waiting for an occupational therapy first time assessment; 8,054 waiting for a physiotherapy assessment; 31,073 (c) waiting for speech and language therapy; 6,517 waiting for a dietetics appointment; 15,985 children waiting for an ophthalmology appointment and 10,756 children waiting for an audiology appointment."
The Taoiseach said the Government needs to see if there is capacity in the private sector and has to work out a reimbursement policy.
"We are looking at this," Mr Varadkar added.
Earlier, Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte committed to setting up six regional assessment units for people with additional needs.
She said this will mean that there will be a round table liaison which is made up of different disciplines and will allow the experts to find the correct pathways for each child.
The units will be a combination of public and private, Ms Rabbitte added, to ensure there is delivery of assessment.
She said that if this is not set up by 1 August, she will make a proposal for private assessments to be funded by the exchequer "so I am giving the time to the HSE to act on the ask".
"For once and for all we will be putting the parents and the child first."
Her announcement was met with applause by members of the Labour Party who had put down a private members' motion on the issue.
Ms Rabbitte spoke of the "frustratingly slow pace of development" and said there are projects that are shovel ready.
Deputy Smith said assessment delays are profoundly impacting thousands of children all over the country and "overall too many children and too many families are being left behind".
He cited the example of brothers Neil and John Darmody - both of whom have autism and have been waiting several years for assessment - and this had led to delayed access for appropriate school support.
He explained the Health Service Executive agreed to pay for a private psychological assessment for Neil Darmody in 2023 "setting a clear precedent".
"The State is statutorily obliged to provide for children's needs. Until the targets are being met, if a family has found their own ability to get an assessment of needs, then the State should pick up that tab."
A number of TDs shared stories of families who are waiting years for assessments.
Sinn Féin Deputy Pat Buckley said he had heard from a family in Tipperary who has been offered an assessment of need for their one-year-old child in 2028.
He said families are having to go to the High Court to fight for disability access for their children and it is "not on" describing it as "embarrassing for families to have to go public".
Deputy Seán Sherlock said many families are facing "discrimination and segregation" because they are locked out of services such as respite care.
He spoke about Julie-Anne Cunneen and her 16-year-old son Liam who spoke to RTÉ's This Week on Sunday.
"When he becomes overwhelmed, he can lose his composure, he is becoming more and more aggressive."
"On Saturday morning Liam gave me an almighty beating. The guards had to be called. I am still struggling to walk, and I am suffering from ongoing headaches."
He said she aired her story and very private family matters out of "utter desperation".
Minister Roderic O’Gorman described the members frustration as "heartbreaking and entirely understandable" and "many families waiting far too long."
He said recruitment challenges are impacting capacity and the HSE is progressing a number of issues in this area.
'We will hold minister and Taoiseach to account' - Darmody
Mark Darmody and his daughter Cara, who have been campaigning on behalf of his two sons, described today's announcement by the Government as "a massive breakthrough for us as a family and for the thousands of children who are waiting across the country."
He said: "The Government has made a promise today to fund private assessment if necessary, and if they do not do that we will be back. we will hold the minister and the Taoiseach to account."
Catherine Cox of Family Carers Ireland said it is a good foundation but more action is needed.
"it is great news for the hundreds of thousands of children who are on waiting lists for more than a year for vital services. We know so many families are struggling emotionally and financially so we would like to see a complete reform of carers allowance for family carers."
Labour Deputy Alan Kelly commended Minister Anne Rabbitte for her remarks in the Dáil.
He said that what was witnessed on the floor of the house was "a flip from Government and "a significant change."
It is a "massive budgetary commitment," he added.
