Ms Breda Crehan-Roche:

In reply to Deputy Dillon's question, I am very familiar with the Western Care Association, which is a section 39 organisation and a fine service provider. At one stage it provided autism services. It chose to hand those back to the HSE some years ago. It is working closely with the HSE in the provision of progressing disability services. It is not a lead agency. The HSE is the lead agency in the Deputy's area. We have the autism assessment and intervention pathway. A pilot is ongoing within CHO 2. I will shortly pass back to Professor MacLachlan on that.

I chair the progressing disabilities oversight group and some years ago when we were developing the national access policy, primary care and disabilities worked together. Once that was available and published, it was rolled out in all the community health organisations and training was provided. The disability teams and the primary care teams work closely together on the ground. I can speak specifically about my area which covers Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. On our walk around yesterday, Mr. Reid and I and were in Castlebar where we met a therapist who had returned from the UK and Australia. The previous day we were in Galway and we met a therapist who works in primary care. She was particularly interested in the autism protocol pilot and very happy to be involved in that. Some quite exciting things are happening on the ground.

We are setting up family forums. The head of disability services in my area, John Fitzmaurice, the Minister of State and I communicate regularly. We have met more than 30 family groups across the three counties. If I may, I might ask Professor MacLachlan to talk about the autism pilot.