Disability activist Cara Darmody has called on the Taoiseach to declare growing waiting lists for child disability assessments a national crisis.
The 14-year-old campaigner became the first person to address the new Oireachtas Committee on Health this morning.
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.
The teenager warned the committee that this could grow by 10,000 by the end of the year, describing the situation as a national crisis and an international embarrassment.
She said the Taoiseach was not able to commit to any changes when she met him at Leinster House last month.
Cara told politicians at the committee: "Not only is this a national crisis, but it's an international embarrassment. There was no action confirmed (from the Taoiseach).
"That determines me to keep on fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.
"Getting change is the big problem here - it’s unfortunate I have to be up here because the government aren’t able to do the job that they’re paid to do.
"I’m going to keep on protesting and fighting until I get what I want and those children who are permanently damaged can finally get the service and the assessments of need that they deserve."
The teenage activist called for the Government to declare the waiting lists as a national crisis emergency for children as well as a taskforce to examine any possible obstacles to change such as low recruitment and any potential changes to the law.
