This is an increase in the 20,209 children overdue for assessment at the end of 2025.

It comes as teenage campaigner Cara Darmody began staging a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House on Tuesday morning.

Mr Shortall submitted to Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger that the HSE ‘s alleged position was that “under no circumstances will we carry out an assessment”.

She says she was "taken aback" that there was a waiting time of six years between applying for an assessment and the proposed receipt of HSE services in 2028.

The court heard the child is a flight risk and can be aggressive towards her siblings due to her disability