Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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I am the final speaker. Ms Cox made the comment that cultural change is needed, and I think that is right. Probably a better understanding in society of autism and all of the associated areas around it is needed in general. We are working on it in Leinster House. A number of us have a programme to have Leinster House be one of the first autism-friendly parliaments in the world. Part of that is that all 1,500 staff – political staff, Deputies, Senators, etc. – are undertaking a training course with AsIAm in order to give us a better understanding. Hopefully, by the end of the year, all staff will have completed that and we will be able say that in this complex, which is the seat of Government and power, we are leading from the top. That will work down through society, our local authorities and all organisations and ensure that everyone has a better understanding and we get that culture change.

I wish to make a couple of points. it was stated that it is imperative that all children get the supports early enough. It is about intervention. Mark Darmody was mentioned, and we had Cara Darmody here as the youngest ever witness to appear before to an Oireachtas committee. We were able to highlight in one family the difference made by getting them supports or not getting them supports. I see it as a father of a young autistic son. We had to go privately for supports but I see the benefits to him of having gotten the interventions early.

We all spoke about the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. We must acknowledge her commitment. As has been stated, a commitment to use the NTPF to provide services is contained in the programme for Government. It should have been done before now, to be quite honest. However, the commitment is there. We have to push to put a mechanism in place to compensate parents who have to go outside the system because we have not been able to provide it as a State. Unfortunately, due to the numbers of professionals across the therapies, the reality is we will find it difficult to be able to provide it over the next number of years until we have a sufficient number of professionals coming out of our third level system who will work for the State. That needs to implemented. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, made the comment about August, but that needs to happen straight away.

With regard to the assessment of needs and the Disability Act 2005, as was referred to, what are the witnesses’ view on it? It gives a constitutional right to an assessment but it does not give a right for a service. What are the witnesses’ views on that?

I totally agree with increasing the income up to €350 and taking away that it is based on income needs rather than the needs of the person. As public representatives, we all know cases of families. There is one family who I know quite well who have two children on the autism spectrum. A parent had to give up work. The spouse is working, driving up and down to Dublin, leaving at 6 a.m. Yet, on income ground, they were not entitled to get any State support. I do not thing that is right. We have heard evidence about the significant costs involved.

I think the cost to a family associated with having someone who is on the autism spectrum is the region of €18,000 because of having to purchase supports the State is not yet providing and loss of income. Most people are not working or a partner is not. That must change.

On respite, last Friday week I was in Multyfarnham in Westmeath. The Alzheimer Society opened a respite centre to cover Longford and Westmeath for families. It is based on the grounds of the nursing home.