Listen Back: Local parents say they are being failed by the State | NorthernSound

Parents from across the region say their children are being failed by the state in 2026.

Stephen McKenna from Clones has two daughters that present on the autism spectrum, he believes that these children are not being cherished but neglected by the government.

Stephen says it’s not about a postcode lottery, these lack of services are being emulated across the country.

Stephen along with other parents who have spent years fighting for assessments, therapies, school places and support for their children protested outside the Dáil this week.

He says early intervention is key and this is not being done with a matter of urgency.

Co Cavan mother Serena Dawson says parents are being told to wait and then get passed from service to service and it's not fair.

She said enough is enough and that message needs to go out loud and clear.

This protest today is highlighting the lack of disability services there is across the country and how parents are standing together to show that the system is broken.

They say that their children deserves access to the right supports, the right services, the right school and the chance to thrive.

Instead, parents say families are exhausted, children are struggling, and parents are being left fighting a system that should be there to support them

Ronan Gargan sent us this report from outside Leinster House: