Sorcha Ward’s daughter, Aoife, from Co Donegal, was around 18 when she began regressing in 2016, and they are one of many families affected by the condition, marked by a sudden loss of previously acquired abilities.

Padraig Byrne, who has Down Syndrome, only got his first hearing assessment when he was 17 months old.

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”.

They were each charged with theft of €500 from Joshua Spurling, 23, at Aston Quay, Dublin 2, on January 21st

David Johnstone (40) has been waiting for more than 10 years to be assessed by the council for social housing