Mr. Adam Harris:

It is important to note that the HSE has an autism programme board. I am not sure if the committee is aware of it. It was set up a couple of years ago arising from a review of autism services that was carried out in 2017. The board is tasked with looking at two main areas of work. First, it is preparing to do a HSE awareness campaign about autism. That piece is coming. Second, there is a desire to develop a pathway protocol for autism assessment. This is looking at a tiered model of assessment through the public system. That pilot is going on at the minute in CHO 2, CHO 7 and CHO 9 and is running until next March. I specifically made the point that it is really important that this committee would get an opportunity to scrutinise the progress, or otherwise, that the board is making. I believe it will have some preliminary data towards the end of this year. It would definitely be worth the committee hearing about that progress. One model - which will not necessarily be the right model - is an example of where the system's thinking is that in that regard. Perhaps this answers the Deputy's question.