Parents of children with disabilities who are waiting for assessments of need could soon be reimbursed by the State if they seek private care.

The Junior Children's Minister said she would seek budget approval for the policy, which would impact anyone waiting longer than six months.

Earlier, the Dail heard over four thousand children with autism are on the waiting list for assessments of need.

Junior Minister Anne Rabbitte says she wants to try to establish six regional assessment teams to clear the backlog before adopting the policy.