Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Chairperson and myself would have sat together when we spoke on the autism strategy in the past. The reason I am acting as chairperson of the group is to assist in opening doors. This is to do with health, employment, housing and education. I confirm that it is not just Department officials who will be sitting on this strategy group by any manner or means. There will be an open consultation to invite individuals, advocacy groups and organisations to be part and parcel of identifying what can be within the strategy and outside it. I have referred to frustraters, agitators and low-hanging fruit that have been there for some time. Perhaps we can find a willingness within Departments to work with us to get solutions. I am not going to give a timeline but I am going to be ambitious on this strategy.