Assessment of Need
Assessment of Need
What is an assessment of needs (AON)?
An assessment of needs is a report that identifies your child’s health and educational needs and what services are required to meet their needs. It is carried out by the HSE who involve the NCSE for the education section. This is called the Report of Education Needs or ROEN for short.
The application can be made by a:
– Parent
– Legal guardian
– Personal advocate
Report of Education Needs for the Purpose of the Assessment of Need Disability Act 2005Anyone born on or after 1 June 2002 can apply for an assessment of needs under the Disability Act (2005).
If the HSE believes that there may be a need for an education service for the applicant, they ask the NCSE to nominate a person with expertise to assist in carrying out the assessment of education needs.
We then request the person’s school or educational setting to complete a Report of Education Needs (ROEN).
The school will usually ask the teacher to complete the report.
Assessment of Need
Circulars
Here we link to two relevant circulars from the Department of Education.
0069/2025 Assessment of Need:
This circular clarifies the roles and responsibilities of schools and the NCSE in assisting the HSE by carrying out an assessment of education needs for children and young people attending schools.
0025/2024 Report of Education Need for the Purpose of the Assessment of Need Disability Act 2005:
This circular outlines the process of the assessment of need.
Assessment of Need
How can we support you?
If a school needs support to complete NCSE Report of Education Needs for AON, our advisors can provide support over the phone, video call or in person in school.
Email: aon@ncse.ie
Phone line: 01 603 3456
You can also read our guidance note and frequently asked questions guides below
Assessment of Need
Guidance Note
This document provides guidance for schools on completing the NCSE Report of Education Needs as part of the Assessment of Need (AON) process under the Disability Act 2005.
It outlines the steps schools should follow when nominated to contribute to the assessment including:
-Gathering relevant educational information
-Identifying any additional needs to support the HSE’s evaluation.
Assessment of Need
Sample of Report of Education Needs (ROEN) Form
View a sample of the Report of Education Needs(ROEN) Form that is issued to schools for completion during the Assessment of Need process.
Assessment of Need
Frequently Asked Questions
View our Frequently Asked Questions which are updated regularly with the latest questions and answers.