Teen activist Cara Darmody is continuing her protest outside Leinster House despite having a fractured knee.
The 13-year-old this morning held her protest outside Government Buildings for the fourth week in a row – despite the pouring rain and her knee injury.
Cara has now been calling on the Government to speed up autism assessments for just over two years.
She has two younger brothers - Neil and John - who both have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities.
Her current round of weekly protests, aimed at forcing the Government to stop breaking the Assessments of Needs (AON) law, began in mid-June.
The Disability Act says an assessment of children's needs should be completed within six months – a target campaigners say authorities are failing to meet.
Cara suffered a small fracture to her left knee while playing in a football match last Sunday. She told Newstalk an injury won't stop her.
"I've already heard politicians say 'The first shower of rain and she'll be gone'" she said.
"My Dad got several messages from various politicians on Monday to say they were 'sorry' that I can't make it to my protest today, and what a 'pity' it is that I can't get up there because of my injury and the impending rain.
"Well they're wrong, and I can tell you that it'll take a lot more than a fractured knee and heavy rain to put me off."
'Parents don't get to quit'
Cara said she won't stop protesting in solidarity with others who can't take a break.
"What they don't get is parents or carers of disabled kids don't get to quit, take a day off, or feel sorry for themselves," she said.
"Rain and a fractured knee are minor little things compared to the pain and suffering that families go through by the HSE not complying with the Assessments of Needs laws.
"I'm sending a very clear message to the Taoiseach and all politicians today – no amount of rain, cold, wind or a fractured knee is going to stop me campaigning for what is morally right, namely to have the AON law enforced."
13-year-old Cara Darmody with Taoiseach Simon Harris in his office at Government Buildings, 20-6-24. Image: SuppliedCara said her protest shows there is something very wrong with this country.
"There is something very badly wrong with the country when a 13-year old, namely me, has to sit outside the Taoiseach's Department in the rain and with a fractured knee for free all because the politicians cannot do the highly-paid jobs that they are elected to," she said.
"Maybe they should have a good think about that. I'll stay put here until they do," she added.
Cara met the Taoiseach late last month and is set to meet him again in the coming week.
