Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism

Autism Policy and Health: Health Service Executive

Mr. Bernard O'Regan:

I do not have those data. Again, I would have to get them for the Senator. I do not disagree with her in principle. The point is more that children are in lots of different environments and that the service needs to work with families, teaching staff and whoever else in order to support children in all their environments, and the model of service needs to reflect that. Nowhere in the model does it say that staff should not or cannot work in schools. If they are working with children, they should be looking at what the needs of the children are regardless of the environment and then figuring out what the right intervention is. There is no issue with staff going in and working in schools, but it is important also that we have a way of working with families in order that we are also mindful of the other environments a child is in and we are providing wholesome and full support that is targeted not just on the educational needs of the child but on their broader needs as well.

Was there something Ms O'Kelly wanted to come in on?