Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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That is agreed.

Petition No. 1 of 2023 seeks immediate financial relief for autistic children whose families are paying privately for assessments and therapies; proper oversight and an external complaints system for the HSE; and a full review of carer's allowance and how carers are viewed. It was submitted by Mr. Mark Darmody on behalf of Ms Cara Darmody. The petitioner advises that this petition has three aspects to it, all of which are connected. The first aspect is that more than 18,000 children are waiting long periods for autistic assessment on HSE waiting lists. It is accepted that it is the State's responsibility, through the HSE, to pay for those assessments but because the State is failing in its responsibility to assess in a timely manner, parents are forced to pay privately for critical assessments. Additionally, parents are also forced to pay privately when the State fails to provide therapy services such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, etc. Mr. Darmody advises that no parent should have to finance such services or assessments and that a mechanism must be immediately introduced to ensure that no parent bears the cost for the State's failure to provide services. The second part of the petition is to seek an external complaints mechanism for the HSE, as well as a health oversight authority, similar to the present Garda policing model. Parents across the country believe the HSE is not accountable for its actions as it investigates itself. Mr. Darmody contends that the Ombudsman for Children does not have the investigative powers to properly oversee the HSE. The third part is that having a disabled child leads to a parent becoming a carer. The petitioner seeks that a full review of the position of carers take place.

The petitions case manager corresponded with Mr. John McKeon, Secretary General, Department of Social Protection, on 2 March 2023 and received a reply on 9 March 2023 setting out the Department's position on this matter. This correspondence was forwarded to the petitioner and Mr. Darmody replied on 5 April 2023. The secretariat also corresponded with Mr. Leo Bollins, clerk to the Joint Committee on Autism on 20 February 2023 with regard to this petition and received a reply on 13 April 2023. The Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen at its meeting of 30 March 2023 discussed a number of issues arising from this petition, namely, the cross-border directive and the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme. The secretariat corresponded with the HSE on 6 April 2023 and awaits a response to queries raised. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has advised that the issues raised in this petition do not fall within its remit. The joint committee recommends that the correspondence from the petitioner be forwarded to the Department of Social Protection for reply within 14 days and the correspondence from Mr. Leo Bollins be forwarded to the petitioner for information. Do members have any views on the matter?