The State's process of assessing special needs has failed many children and their families, according to the Minister responsible for the service.
Anne Rabbitte will go before today's Oireachtas Children's Committee to explain the steps being taken to improve access and reduce backlogs.
A recent Ombudsman report highlighted that more than 6,000 children are overdue an assessment and raised serious concerns about rights violations.
Social Democrats spokesperson on Children, and committee member, Wicklow’s Jennifer Whitmore, says it's a major issue