Enable Ireland has provided disability services in Cork for over 60 years. Enable Ireland is the lead agency for three of the ten Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNT’s) in Cork. The Children’s Disability Network Teams have been set up as part of the national Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Programme. The three teams are located at the Lavanagh Centre in Curraheen.
From 19th of April 2021, these three CDNT’s will provide supports and services for 1,500 children and young people with complex disabilities and their families.
Children’s Disability Network Team Name & Catchment area
Network Team Number |
Children’s Disability Network Team Name & Catchment area |
11 |
Southeast Cork City Douglas/ Blackrock/ Mahon/ Passage West |
12 |
West Central Cork Ballincollig/ Bishopstown/ Macroom |
14 |
South Cork City Turners Cross Grange/ Frankfield/ Togher/ Ballyphehane/ Greenmount/ The Lough |
The Children’s Disability Network Teams in Network 11, 12 and 14 are the providers of services for children and young people 0-18 with complex difficulties in functional skills and/or applied skill sets required for activities of daily living, learning new skills and social interactions. This may involve physical, social, emotional, communication and behavioural domains.
Criteria to access Children’s Disability Network Team services under the lead agency Enable Ireland include the age of the child, their home address and that the child will have complex needs.
About Progressing Disability Services
The HSE, in partnership with Enable Ireland, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, St Joseph’s Foundation, Co Action and COPE Foundation, have established one unified regional network service of 14 Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) for the Cork Kerry Region. The ‘Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People’ Programme aims to achieve a national unified approach to delivering children’s disability health services. The central focus of this programme is to provide one clear pathway to services for each child and family with complex needs within their local area.
Who to contact?
Each CDNT has the following Children’s Disability Network Manager.
Network Team Number |
CDNT Name & Catchment area |
Lead Agency |
Children Disability Network Manager |
11 |
Southeast Cork City Douglas/ Blackrock/ Mahon/ Passage West |
Enable Ireland |
Milind Sonawane, CDNT Manager |
12 |
West Central Cork Ballincollig/ Bishopstown/ Macroom |
Enable Ireland |
Triona Hayes, CDNT Manager |
14 |
South Cork City Turners Cross Grange/ Frankfield/ Togher/ Ballyphehane/ Greenmount/ The Lough |
Enable Ireland |
Alma Worrall, CDNT Manager |
How do I get a referral?
Children aged from birth to 18 years may be referred for services.
A national ‘Children’s Services Referral Form’ must be completed by parents/legal guardians, health and social care professionals, General Practitioners (GPs), hospitals, education professionals, assessment officers or case managers and sent to their local Children’s Disability Network Team.
Children’s Services Referral Form (Download Word version)
Each referral must be accompanied by an “Additional Information Form” specific to their child’s age category (Birth to 11 months; 12 months to 2 years 11 months; 3 years to 5 years 11 months; 6 years to 11 years 11 months; 12 years to 18 years). This additional information form can only be completed by the child’s parent/carer.
Additional Information Form Birth to 11 months (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 12 months to 2 years 11 months (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 3 years to 5 years 11 months (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 6 years to 11 years 11 months (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 12 years to 18 years (download Word version)
These forms allow all PDS teams and disciplines/services to accept and prioritise referrals on a consistent and equitable basis.
Information for families
For families who have been enrolled on to their local Children Disability Team Network 11, 12 and 14 under the lead agency Enable Ireland, we have recorded a presentation with information on Progressing Disability Services. You can watch this presentation here.
Useful information
For more information about the national Progressing Disability Services programme and for national policies and reports, please visit the HSE website here. You can also find key national documents here.
Lavanagh Centre Video
Watch our Lavanagh Centre video, updated in April 2021 following the draw for Win a House, Cork.
Read the HSE’s Children’s Disability Network Team leaflet.
The leaflet is also available in the following languages:
Echipele din reteaua pentru copiii cu dizabilitati: Romanian
Equipes da Rede de Deficiencia Infantil: Brazilian Portuguese
Equipes reseau sur le handicap des enfants: French
Foirne Lionra Michumais Leanai: Gaelige
Lasten Vammaidverkoston Valjokot: Finnish
Siec Zespolow Wsparcia Dziecka z Niepelnosprawnoscia: Polish
Vaiku neigalumo tinkle darbo grupes: Lithuanian