Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend Mr. Harris and AsIAm on all the work they do in supporting autistic people and their families. I know AsIAm provides support and training to many parents' groups and other smaller organisations which come together to try to support each other. AsIAm does considerable work in creating the awareness that needs to be improved.

As the Chairman said, Mr. Harris's report is very comprehensive. He has given us some stark and frightening statistics as well as some good recommendations. The positives are that this committee has been established and that an autism strategy is being prepared. However, as Mr. Harris said, unless something comes from those, they will be no more than talking shops. Some excellent reports on a range of issues have been produced but just gather dust on a shelf with nothing implemented.

Mr. Harris mentioned that awareness is at 80% which is good, but understanding is only at 40%. How can that be improved? We often talk about improved training for teachers, those in childcare settings and those in further education, but it needs to extend to all people, including all employers. One parent told me about her son who had a masters in IT. She was talking to an employer who was very interested in him and when she said he was autistic, suddenly the interest waned. That is pure misunderstanding of autism in many ways or perhaps not knowing enough about what it might mean and the supports needed. Perhaps education is also needed.

We have spoken about the lack of appropriate school places. One parent contacted me on Friday. She thought she was getting ahead of the posse by looking for a place for her son in a special class in September 2023 only to be told there were no places in the surrounding area. He is in a mainstream primary school and has supports. A NEPS psychologist recommended a special class setting. I asked her what his SENO suggested. She said there was no SENO in place or if there is, she has had no contact. I will contact the NCSE to discuss that case. Does AsIAm have much interaction with the NCSE on creating sufficient school places?

The Minister of State appeared before the committee earlier. Is Mr. Harris confident that the changes she discussed, particularly on the CDNTs, will happen quickly enough to make a difference because early intervention is so important?