Dr. Pat Matthews:

I am really disappointed about the way the autism services have developed over the past decade because we were making progress at one stage and then it stopped. The commitment was not there and the commitment was not there because Governments change. We need something stable behind that. We need the legislation in order that it can be carried on consistently. It is a lottery for children with autism based on where they happen to live. If there is a good school in the area that is accommodating and accepting and has good staff, they are lucky. There are many parts of Ireland where children have to travel 50 km or 100 km to get a proper education and a school that is accessible to them. For children, that is fine in one way because they have something. When you come to adulthood and leave school services, what is facing you? There is not one plan anywhere for the adults of Ireland as they leave the school system. It is off a cliff edge. There is nothing there. We do not have a plan of continuation. There is no cradle-to-grave approach and in this day and age, that is a tragic travesty. It should not be allowed to happen. It is all our responsibility - yours and mine. The Irish public needs to move on this issue once and for all because we have a population of people. Even in the third level sector, it is a lottery. There are so many people who do not even have the opportunity to go to university. They and their families are not supported enough. The awareness of needs is not being published.

I have been campaigning for 50 years and have been in a lot of countries. We have started services in different countries. One example is in Poland. They have good services now and have passed us by and yet we started them off. That annoys me because I have been to so many politicians over the years but it has fallen on deaf ears, unfortunately. I do not like to say it but for every one who has given assistance, there seem to be so many people who just do not care any more. This committee has an opportunity. It is a good solid committee. It should make sure that it leaves behind a legacy for children with autism and their families. Give us good autism services nationwide where there is primary, secondary and vocational education and access to third-level education for those who want it. I beg the committee not to miss this opportunity.