Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 31 January 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism

Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Jim Lennon:

The original intention, when we put together the New Decade, New Approach deal, was that we would move in Northern Ireland to a three-year budgeting plan. The intention now, with our sponsor department in Northern Ireland, is to move to a five-year plan covering the period 2023 to 2028, which would give a bit more certainty. We are still developing that planning framework, but approval and support for it will be dependent on a number of factors. We will be into ministerial prerogatives at that point, realistically.