Mr. Bernard Gloster:

Just before the Deputy came in, I explained to his colleagues that I would make changes in October this year. I have met many professionals and parents in recent days and weeks. I attended an Irish Medical Organisation conference a few weeks ago and was struck by the number of general practitioners who told me how much time they spent referring children to HSE specialist services only to be told they had opened the wrong door, at which point they had to start again. We are changing the system so that there is only one front door and there is no wrong door. Whether it is a GP, a teacher or a family member, a child will be referred. The combined efforts of CAMHS, disability services and primary care will decide which offers the best chance for the quickest pathway for that child to receive an appropriate response. That will include the autism protocol.