Children are being left “rotting on waiting lists” in Ireland and it’s a “national disgrace,” according to a 13-year-old autism campaigner.

Cara Darmody from Tipperary has decided enough is enough and began a protest outside Leinster House yesterday, which she promises to continue every week until her demands are met.

She is calling on the Government to speed up autism assessments in Ireland and met with Taoiseach Simon Harris to discuss the issue.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Cara said her family has been affected by autism.

“I’d like to clarify that I’m not actually autistic myself, but I do have two severely autistic brothers,” she said.

“Neil is 11 and John is 7 and it’s devastating, but I’m not doing this for myself, my own family, or even my brothers.

“I’m doing this solely with the aim of helping the 20,000 kids who are on the HSE waiting list [for an assessment] and for the families that can’t fight back themselves.

“I have to fight for what's right and everyone agrees with me on this as well.”

Autism assessments

The 13-year-old said the delays in autism assessments are wrong.

“The Assessment of Need law is a law stating that any kid who applies for an assessment must be assessed within six months of their application,” she said.

“But in nearly every single case in Ireland, that is not happening because these kids have to wait years for assessments.”

The entrance to Leinster House. Image: Brian Irwin / Alamy Stock Photo

Cara, who promises to travel to Leinster House to protest once per week until the General Election, said she met the Taoiseach yesterday.

“I got to just briefly meet him for about 15 minutes, and he said that he's going to formally meet me on Thursday for a meeting,” she said.

“I'm going to tell him a couple of things, like where he needs to improve and all that.

“I'm going to tell him that the HSE is breaking the Assessment of Needs law and the government is allowing them to do it.”

Timeline

Cara is also calling for a timeline of when improvements will be made.

“The Government did fund a little bit more money towards autism assessments, but it’s not good enough,” she said.

“People still aren’t getting assessments, the waiting lists aren’t going to change and it’s simply not good enough.

“What I want the Government to do is give me a timeline or date when change is going to happen.”

Cara previously made the headlines last year when she became the youngest person in Ireland to pass a Leaving Cert maths paper and raised €40,000 for those with disabilities in the process.

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Main image: Autism campaigner Cara Darmody in Newstalk studios. Image: Newstalk