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

I thank the witnesses for coming in and sharing their stories. I commend the witnesses and the organisations they represent. I also commend the many other parents organisations that exist around the country on the work they do. As the witnesses have pointed out, they should not have to do that work. The parents' organisations are only there because the services and supports that should be available to them are not available. I want to especially welcome Ms Smith and Ms Boylan from my area of Cavan and I know the work CAPS has done for the past 20 years, which has been immense. As CAPS is the longest-formed organisation, has it seen any improvement in the provision of services and school places to meet the needs of autistic children in Cavan and elsewhere in its time? I know Bernie Nelson, the founder, is not here but I ask our guests about their experiences in that regard.

On early intervention, the HSE was with us last week and it told us that an assessment of need, AON, is not required, nor is a diagnosis. I do not understand that because an assessment of need outlines the services and supports that a child needs. In an ideal world a diagnosis would not be needed if there were sufficient places for all autistic children in our schools but there are not and schools are depending on the diagnosis in order to allocate the places because there are so few places. Also, it makes sense that they would know what the needs of the child are. I invite the witnesses to comment on that if they wish.

Ms Byrne mentioned the preliminary team assessments, PTAs, and warned against them and I know that other clinicians warned against them as well. We see the mess we are in because so many children have received this PTA and it is not a proper assessment and it has just put them on another waiting list. On schools, I read through Involve Autism Dublin 6's survey and unfortunately I have heard similar stories from other parents. That was shared with certain organisations but has it been shared it with the NCSE? If not, would it be worth sharing with it and if so, what comment or response has been received, if any? Some special education needs organisers, SENOs, I have worked with in the past are excellent while many others do not seem to understand their jobs. They do not liaise with the children and families who require their support and they almost seem to be the gatekeepers for the Department rather than supporting the family and the child in finding a school place and then in maintaining it.