Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last week, along with the buildings facilities manager and the inclusion and diversity officer, we did an audit in order that Leinster House will be completely autism friendly by early 2023. Tours can come in and schools can see a video of the tour in advance, with the sounds and lighting and so on. We will have staff trained to help with any person with autism who comes to visit. It is only right that we should lead by example. As the institution that makes the laws of this country, it is right that we should be doing this. It was the push and the perseverance of this committee here that is making this happen. It will be a place in early 2023. Does any other member care to come back in before I continue? No.

I read the witnesses' opening statement. When I was speaking with Ms Ryan earlier, prior to coming in here, I felt that what Ms Ryan and Fiacre would say would be extremely powerful. I believe it will make changes for a lot of families, now and into the future. I will read a couple of the lines from the statement that particularly struck me. "Someone who cannot speak is regarded as not having intelligence ... We do not assume that deaf or blind people have lesser intelligence. Why so with autism?" Reference was also made to what it means to get to know the person, not just the person with autism. In his book, Fiacre wrote: "Try to see past the autism and realise that we are the same inside as others. I really only mostly try to show that I am not stupid." I was particularly struck by this. I speak as the parent of a young autistic son. There is a perception in society that someone who has autism has lesser intelligence. That is not the case. We have to change that in society and society has to change. Fiacre is a fantastic example of that. A method of assistive technology has given Fiacre that opportunity. Yet, there are road blocks between the Government and our educational system that prevent this happening for other kids. I do not believe that is acceptable on the part of the State.

Ms Ryan mentioned a school in Longford. I know the school and I compliment it on allowing RPM to be used in the school. However, the fact is the parents in that school have to fundraise, entirely by themselves, for a person to come in from England because there is nobody in Ireland to do it. There was a person but unfortunately they are no longer doing the training. They have to fund bringing somebody from England to be able to provide this in the school for their kids. I do not think that is acceptable.

We need to make sure the State takes responsibility. We need to make sure the funding is put in place. We have to give every child this opportunity in life. As a cross-party committee, we are united in that goal. We want to make changes. I will be asking the Government and the Minister to put a budget in place for that IT equipment. I have seen it being used and what it can do for a young child. It gives them that opportunity to express their feelings and their inner thoughts that have been blocked up. Ms Ryan said it herself; that reduces the frustration levels and the behaviour issues. We did music therapy with my son at a young age because he was finding it difficult to be understood verbally. We went down that route to try to reduce his frustration. It worked for us, thank God, and we saw the difference. He is thriving in school, as far as I am concerned. He will be what he is going to be and he will be a young lad who will strive. It is my job as a parent to support him but we as a system and a Government have to put the funding in place to make sure that assistance is there in order to give children that opportunity. Ms Ryan's statement here today has really put it up to us and to the Government to make those changes, put the funding in place and give every child that opportunity. That is the minimum we should do.

I thank Ms Ryan and Fiacre for coming up from Mayo, and to Mr. Pat Ryan and Ms Rebekah Ryan, who are here also. I read the book a couple of weeks ago. It is fantastic reading. I wish Fiacre well with the book and with college. I look forward to hearing how he is getting on there. He has shown a lot of families around the country that you can be what you want to be. He should keep pushing and striving. We as politicians need to put the support in place to support Fiacre and his family, and support other families around the country. Thank you very much. Would Ms Ryan like to make a final comment before we finish up?