Fourteen-year-old disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody met Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Leinster House this morning.
Cara was accompanied by her father into the Department of the Taoiseach at Government Buildings.
She spent the night in a tent outside Leinster House as part of a 50-hour protest, calling for urgent action on growing waiting lists for child disability assessments.
Speaking after the meeting, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said Mr Martin had listened to what Cara and her father had to say and outlined some of the ongoing work by the Government in relation to disability.
The spokesman added that they have had good engagement with Cara over the years.
Yesterday, Cara said the Government is "breaking the law" by failing to ensure timely assessments for children.
She is demanding meaningful steps be taken to address what she describes as a "national crisis".
Under the Disability Act 2005, children are legally entitled to an assessment of need within six months of applying.
However, recent figures show that thousands of families are still waiting far beyond that deadline prompting ongoing criticism from advocacy groups.
Currently there are more than 15,000 children waiting for an assessment of need, which is often a key requirement for children accessing certain services and supports.
Martin accused of 'same old tired excuses' on assessment of need
Deputy leader of the Social Democrats Cian O'Callaghan accused Mr Martin of offering the "same old tired excuses" on assessment of need.
Speaking in the Dáil, he said that Mr Martin has engaged in a "completely inadequate box-ticking exercise".
Cara Darmody has learned through dealing with the Government "that talk is cheap", and its credibility is "in tatters", he said.
Mr Martin rejected Mr O’Callaghan’s claim that the Government does not see the proble, and insisted he is focused on solutions.
"We are increasing the level of assessments but we need more," he said.
Mr O'Callaghan then expressed his astonishment that the Government "haven't been able to get your act together" and urged them to "stop breaking the law".
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that Cara "is not going away".
"From what I'm hearing you made no commitments and no progress with Cara" at a meeting this morning, she told Taoiseach Micheál Martin, something he rejected.
Mr Martin said he is "interested in solutions" but is not sure Ms McDonald is.
