If you think your child may be autistic or neurodivergent
Knowing where to turn can be the hardest part. This page sets out the public and private pathways to assessment and support available to families in our area, and how to start each one.
A note on the role of general practice. For children, the assessment and ongoing support for autism and neurodiversity is delivered not by your GP but through the HSE's children's disability services and through allied health professionals — speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists. The good news is that the main pathways below can be started by you directly, without a GP appointment. You do not need a diagnosis, and in most cases you do not need a referral letter, to begin. This page is here so you can take those first steps yourself.
The Assessment of Need
An Assessment of Need (AON) is a legal entitlement under the Disability Act 2005 for any child born on or after 1 June 2002 who may have a disability. It identifies your child's needs and what services should meet them. You apply directly — you do not need a diagnosis first, and you do not strictly need a GP referral, though supporting information is helpful.
How it works
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Download and complete the Assessment of Need application form from the HSE and send it to your local Assessment Officer.
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The HSE must confirm receipt within 2 weeks of getting your application.
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An assessment must be arranged within 3 months, and the assessment report is usually completed within a further 3 months.
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If your child is found to have a disability, a Liaison Officer issues a Service Statement setting out the services the HSE will provide.
Apply / info hse.ie — Applying for an Assessment of Need
Cost Free
Be aware that waiting times for AON have been considerable in practice. The HSE has signalled reforms — including a new Autism Assessment and Intervention Protocol and a Single Point of Access — intended to provide faster routes than the AON process. We will update this page as those changes take effect.
North Wicklow Children's Disability Network Team
The Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT) is the HSE-funded team that provides ongoing therapeutic support — occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, physiotherapy and social work — for children with more complex needs. It is not diagnosis-led: your child does not need a diagnosis to be referred, and a CDNT referral can run alongside an Assessment of Need. You can self-refer.
Enable Ireland — North Wicklow CDNT
LEAD AGENCY FOR CHILDREN'S DISABILITY SERVICES IN WICKLOW
Covers children from birth to 18 with complex needs living in Bray, Delgany, Greystones, Kilcoole, Kilquade, Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy.
Send referrals CHEast.NAP@hse.ie (Central Referral Forum)
to or by post: Central Referral Forum, HSE Block B, Civic Centre, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 X329
Team office Enable Ireland, Marino Centre, Church Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Team contact cdnt5wicklow@enableireland.ie · 01 286 7543
More info enableireland.ie — North Wicklow CDNT
Cost Free
A referral form can be completed by parents or guardians, a GP, a health professional, or an education professional.
Once received, the team decides on the most appropriate service and contacts you about next steps.
Private assessment
Because public waiting lists can be long, many families choose a private assessment to obtain a diagnosis sooner. A few things worth knowing before you do:
A private diagnosis can unlock school supports and certain allowances (for example Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit), and is often accepted as part of the HSE's Assessment of Need. However, a private diagnosis does not let you skip the CDNT waiting list for therapies — so it is usually worth pursuing the public referrals in parallel. Before booking, confirm that the provider uses recognised tools (ADOS-2 and ADI-R) and that their reports are accepted by the HSE, the Department of Education and the Department of Social Protection. Note that psychologists are not yet statutorily regulated in Ireland, so check qualifications and registration (CORU) carefully.
Finding a private clinician
Autism Hub maintains a searchable directory of private clinicians and practitioners across Ireland who have stated they follow international best-practice guidelines. The link below is pre-filtered to show those operating in Co. Wicklow, including providers in Greystones, Bray and surrounding areas.
Search directory autismhub.ie — Wicklow clinicians
Autism Hub does not endorse the clinicians it lists, and neither do we. It remains your responsibility to verify each practitioner's qualifications, CORU registration and professional memberships before engaging their services.
Support while you wait, and after
A diagnosis is a key to certain doors, but support does not have to wait for one. Your child can access many HSE services without a formal diagnosis, and several national organisations offer guidance, helplines and practical resources for families at every stage.
National information & advocacy
AsIAm — Ireland's autism charity, with an information line and a free Starting Your Autism Journey guide. asiam.ie
HSE — Autism services & supports. Overview of assessment, the AON, CDNTs and CAMHS, and how to find your local team. www2.hse.ie/conditions/autism
CAMHS — Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Important: CAMHS does not assess or diagnose autism or neurodiversity. It is a mental health service, accessed by GP referral, for children experiencing significant mental health difficulties — for example anxiety, depression or self-harm. Within neurodevelopmental presentations, its assessment role is generally limited to ADHD, not autism. Use the AON and CDNT routes above for autism and broader neurodiversity. Lucena CAMHS — Bray & Wicklow
This resource is intended for parents and guardians of children in North Wicklow and surrounding areas.
The information above is provided for general guidance only and was compiled from publicly available HSE and service-provider sources. Services, contact details, eligibility, fees and waiting times change — please confirm current details directly with each organisation before acting. Listing a private provider is not a clinical endorsement. This page does not replace individual medical advice; speak with your GP or another qualified professional about your child's specific situation. Last reviewed: June 2026.